When someone decides to weaponize the criminal justice system against you through malicious allegations, they’re betting that the mere accusation will be enough to ruin everything you’ve built. Unfortunately, they’re often right: even baseless allegations can cost you your job, your relationships, and your reputation before you ever get your day in court.
Here’s how you can protect yourself from malicious allegations:
- Stay calm and avoid confrontation with your accuser, as any reaction could be twisted against you
- Document everything related to the allegations, including dates, times, witnesses, and communications
- Preserve all evidence that supports your innocence, including text messages, emails, photos, and receipts
- Never speak to law enforcement without an attorney present, no matter how innocent you believe you are
- Avoid discussing your case on social media or with anyone other than your legal counsel
- Gather character witnesses who can testify to your good reputation and moral character
- Hire an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately
Mark Thiessen and the team at Thiessen Law Firm have built their reputation on securing Not Guilty verdicts for clients facing false accusations and malicious allegations. Don’t let someone else’s fictions define your future — call Mark Thiessen today at (713) 864-9000 to start fighting back against these devastating charges.
1. Stay calm and avoid confrontation
Whether you’re falsely accused of assault, domestic violence, or prostitution charges, any interaction with your accuser — whether it’s angry, pleading, or seemingly innocent — can be twisted into evidence of harassment, intimidation, or even additional criminal behavior. Prosecutors love to paint a picture of an aggressive defendant who “won’t leave the victim alone,” and your attempts to clear the air will only fuel that narrative.
Instead, channel your energy into productive actions that actually help your case. Avoid all contact with your accuser, including through mutual friends or social media. If you must be in the same location (such as work or shared custody exchanges), keep interactions brief, professional, and witnessed by others when possible.
Remember that everything you do from the moment allegations surface will be scrutinized, so make sure your behavior demonstrates the calm, rational person you are — not someone capable of the crimes you’re accused of.
2. Document everything
The moment you learn about malicious allegations against you, start building a comprehensive timeline of events. This means writing down everything you can remember about your relationship with the accuser, including specific dates, locations, and circumstances of your interactions. Pay special attention to any previous threats they may have made, their mental health struggles, substance abuse issues, or financial motivations for lying.
Don’t rely on your memory alone — use your phone, computer, and any other digital tools to piece together an accurate chronology. Check your location history, photo timestamps, social media posts, and even your fitness tracker data to establish where you were and when.
If you’re dealing with a false accusation of domestic violence, document any history of the accuser making similar allegations against others, as this pattern can be incredibly powerful in court. The more detailed and organized your documentation, the better equipped your attorney will be to dismantle the prosecution’s case against you.
3. Preserve all evidence
In today’s digital age, evidence can disappear with the click of a button, and accusers know this. They may delete text messages, social media posts, or photos that contradict their story, hoping to control the narrative. Your job is to preserve everything before they get the chance. Take screenshots of all social media interactions, save voicemails, and back up text message conversations to multiple locations. If you have security camera footage, Ring doorbell videos, or any other digital evidence, copy it immediately to prevent “technical failures” or convenient deletions.
Physical evidence is equally important but often overlooked. If you’re dealing with charges like aggravated assault on a family member in Texas, preserve any clothing, photographs of your alleged injuries, or medical records that support your version of events. Even seemingly unrelated items like receipts showing your location during the alleged incident can be game-changers.
Remember that the burden is on the prosecution to prove their case, but having strong evidence of your innocence makes their job nearly impossible. Your Houston assault lawyer will know exactly how to use this evidence to create reasonable doubt or even get charges dismissed entirely.
4. Never speak to law enforcement without an attorney present
When police contact you about allegations, they’re not looking for your side of the story — they’re building a case against you. Officers are trained in interrogation techniques designed to get confessions, and they’re legally allowed to lie to you during questioning. They might claim they just want to “clear things up” or suggest that cooperating will help your situation, but the reality is that anything you say will be used against you in court.
If you’re falsely accused of a crime, your silence cannot be used against you, but your words absolutely can. Invoke your right to an attorney immediately and resist the urge to explain your innocence. Police may try to make you feel guilty for “lawyering up,” suggesting that innocent people don’t need attorneys, but this is psychological manipulation.
The smartest thing any innocent person can do is recognize that the criminal justice system is adversarial by nature, and you need someone on your side who understands how to navigate it properly.
5. Avoid discussing your case
Social media has become a prosecutor’s best friend in building cases against defendants. That angry Facebook post about your “crazy ex” or that Instagram story defending yourself might feel cathartic, but it’s also potential evidence that you’re unstable, vindictive, or guilty. Even private messages aren’t truly private — they can be subpoenaed and used against you in court. The same goes for discussing your case with friends, family members, or coworkers who might later be called as witnesses.
Wonder what to do if you’re facing a domestic assault charge? Keep your mouth shut and let your attorney do the talking. Every conversation about your case should happen with your lawyer present, and every social media urge should be ignored.
Well-meaning friends and family members can inadvertently hurt your case by repeating things you’ve told them, and your natural desire to defend yourself publicly can be twisted into evidence of guilt. Prosecutors are looking for any ammunition they can find, and your own words are often the most powerful weapons they can use against you.
6. Gather character witnesses
Those wondering how to fight against false accusations should know that it often comes down to credibility — whose story will the jury believe? Character witnesses can be the difference between conviction and acquittal because they paint a picture of who you really are versus the monster the prosecution is trying to create.
These witnesses should be people who know you well and can speak to your reputation for honesty, non-violence, and good character. Think about employers, neighbors, religious leaders, coaches, or long-time friends who have seen you in various situations and can testify that aggressive behavior is completely out of character for you.
Consider people who may have witnessed your relationship with the accuser and can contradict their claims, as well as those who can speak to any ulterior motives your accuser might have. Character witnesses are particularly important if you want to take legal action against false allegations because they can help establish that you’re the type of person who wouldn’t commit the alleged crimes, making the accusations less believable to a jury.
7. Hire an experienced criminal defense attorney
The stakes couldn’t be higher when you’re facing malicious allegations, meaning you need an attorney who specializes in the specific charges you’re facing and has a proven track record of winning similar cases. For example, if you’re facing solicitation charges,* you’ll want someone who understands the nuances of those specific charges. Just as assault cases require attorneys who know how to challenge witness credibility and physical evidence.
The right attorney doesn’t just defend you in court — they start protecting you from the moment you hire them. They can interface with law enforcement on your behalf, preventing you from making costly mistakes during the investigation phase. They know how to conduct their own investigation, gather exculpatory evidence, and build a defense strategy that goes beyond just poking holes in the prosecution’s case.
Most importantly, an experienced criminal defense attorney understands that malicious allegations require an aggressive, proactive defense that addresses not just the legal charges, but the broader campaign to destroy your reputation and livelihood.
*Continue reading: Is prostitution legal in Texas? (It’s not!)
Can you press charges on someone for falsely accusing you?
The short answer is: it’s complicated. While you can’t directly “press charges” against someone for falsely accusing you (only prosecutors can file criminal charges), there are both criminal and civil legal remedies available when someone makes malicious allegations against you.
Criminal options: Your false accuser could potentially face criminal charges for filing a false police report, perjury, or making false statements to police. In Texas, filing a false report is typically a Class B misdemeanor that can carry up to 180 days in jail and $2,000 in fines. You should know that prosecutors are often understandably reluctant to charge false accusers because they worry it might discourage real victims from coming forward. Even with solid proof that allegations were fabricated, criminal charges against your accuser aren’t guaranteed.
Civil lawsuits (your better option): You can sue for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or malicious prosecution. Unlike criminal cases controlled by prosecutors, civil lawsuits are entirely your decision. You can seek monetary damages for lost wages, damaged reputation, emotional distress, and attorney fees. The burden of proof is also lower in civil court (preponderance of evidence vs. beyond reasonable doubt), making it easier to win and recover compensation for the devastation their lies caused.
The best way to protect against malicious allegations? Call Thiessen Law Firm.
Malicious allegations are designed to destroy your life before you even have a chance to defend yourself, but with the right attorney in your corner, you can turn the tables on false accusers and protect your reputation and your future. Your next step? Schedule a consultation with Mark Thiessen.
At Thiessen Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating malicious allegations can be, and we’ve dedicated our practice to fighting back against false accusers who think they can weaponize the criminal justice system. Our team knows how to dismantle fabricated stories, expose ulterior motives, and build ironclad defenses that protect our clients’ reputations and freedom.
Don’t let someone else’s lies define your future — when malicious allegations threaten everything you’ve worked for, Mark Thiessen and Thiessen Law Firm are standing by to fight for you. Call us today at (713) 864-9000 and let us start protecting your rights from day one.
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