Every case is different. These are the questions that most often matter when someone is accused or under investigation.
What should I do immediately if I am accused of a sex crime in Arizona?
Do not speak to police without an attorney present. Anything you say, including an attempt to explain yourself or deny the allegation, can be used against you.
Call an experienced sex crimes defense attorney immediately. The earlier a defense attorney is involved, the more options remain available.
Can a person be convicted of a sex crime based solely on an accusation?
The law requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but sex crime prosecutions are often built primarily on a complainant's statement.
A statement is the beginning of an investigation, not the end. When police fail to pursue corroborating evidence, that failure becomes central to the defense.
Do false allegations of sex crimes actually happen?
Yes. False allegations can be malicious fabrications, or they can be erroneous allegations caused by misperception, faulty memory, trauma, or misunderstanding.
The criminal justice system must distinguish between allegation and proven conduct through rigorous investigation.
What rights does an accused person have before formal charges are filed?
Your rights begin when you become a suspect, not only after charges are filed. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
You are not required to give a voluntary interview or statement. Early legal involvement can sometimes prevent charges or narrow what is filed.
What happens if a child's forensic interview was conducted improperly?
Forensic interviews must follow protocols designed to avoid suggestion, coaching, repeated contamination, or parental influence.
When interviewers deviate from accepted methods, the reliability of the child's account can be compromised. Matt Long has trained professionals on these protocols.
What is sex offender registration in Arizona?
Arizona requires mandatory registration for conviction of many sex crimes. Registration can affect where a person lives, works, travels, and appears publicly.
Registration is triggered by conviction, not arrest, which is why early and serious defense matters.
What are dangerous crimes against children?
Dangerous crimes against children, often called DCAC, are sentencing enhancements for certain crimes involving children under 15.
When DCAC applies, Arizona sentencing can include lengthy mandatory prison terms and limited probation or suspended-sentence options.
What is CSAM and what are the penalties for possession in Arizona?
CSAM means child sexual abuse material. Arizona treats knowing possession, distribution, or production as a serious felony, and each image or video can be charged separately.
Defense requires technical scrutiny of warrants, device access, file attribution, chain of custody, and whether the material was knowingly possessed.
