27 - Why won’t the state drop my sex crimes charges even if the victim’s story has changed?

Recantation means that the victim has taken back his or her story or otherwise claimed that his or her original story was untrue. Although you might expect recantation to help your case, often times the opposite is true. This is because the state has a number of expert witnesses that they can, and will, call at trial to explain why the victim has recanted or changed his or her story. These experts are often so qualified that they not only explain away any “bad facts” that hurt the state’s case against you, but they also strengthen the state’s case through their testimony. Recantation is a significant legal issue that requires the expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney who specializes in sex crimes to adequately combat the state’s expert witnesses. It’s important to remember that if the state believed they had probable cause to charge you with a crime in the first place, very rarely will they dismiss a case, even if their case has gotten worse or the facts have changed.

FAQ - Sex Crime Charges in Arizona