New stories about sexual assault can be shocking and frightening. Readers naturally sympathize with the victims and want to see the perpetrators face justice.
What sometimes gets lost in these stories is that the person accused of the crime has rights, and it is important to protect those rights.
Beaumont man charged with sex crimes
A Beaumont man has been arrested and charged with committing violent sex crimes three months after his release from parole.
According to the probable cause affidavit obtained from police by a Beaumont media outlet, a woman was walking alone at about 2:00 a.m. when two men she did not know forced her into a vehicle. She said the two men drove her to an unknown location where they beat and raped her. The woman stated that both men sexually assaulted her before returning her clothes and releasing her. The woman was able to walk to a friend’s house where she called the police.
Following a police interview, the victim was taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital, where she received a sexual assault examination. Evidence obtained during the examination was sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety for examination and testing.
Two samples matched a profile already in a police database. This profile belonged to a man who had just been released from parole. Police obtained a search warrant authorizing them to obtain samples of the suspect’s DNA. An arrest warrant was then issued for the suspect based upon DNA evidence that linked him to the woman’s allegations.
Just being accused of a sex crime is enough to damage one’s reputation and possibly jeopardize one’s employment and more. Being convicted of a sex crime can lead to severe penalties. Even after serving any jail time, a convicted person can be listed on a sex offender registry for years. For a defendant considered a repeat offender, the penalties will be much more severe.
With all this on the line, it’s crucial that the accused have a chance to defend against the charges they face.