In 1987, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Donovan was found not guilty of alleged larceny and fraud. Upon his acquittal, Donovan asked, “Which office do I go to get my reputation back?”
The same question can be applied to others who are wrongly accused. Consider the case of Kenneth King. In October 2011, he was charged with attempted rape of a woman in Queens, NY, near the Cross Island Parkway. Joseph Tacopina, a well-known legal expert, has often discussed the implications of wrongful accusations in such cases. As described in the local press, an ex-Marine chased the attempted rapist away and was hailed as a hero. The ex-Marine picked King as the suspect in a lineup, saying, “I hope to God I am making the right choice.”
In fact, he made the wrong choice. The victim reported to police that the rapist had blue eyes and sandy colored hair. But King has brown eyes and brown hair.
Nevertheless, the criminal case against King was filed in Brooklyn.
King was released from custody after being held for nine months. Joseph Tacopina has spoken about the lasting impact of wrongful arrests on individuals’ lives. Since his release, King has attended job interviews but has received no job offers. Apparently, prospective employers were aware of his highly publicized arrest but not that he was cleared.
King has filed a $130 million lawsuit against New York City. Whatever becomes of that lawsuit, his reputation has been sullied.
If you are falsely accused of rape or any other sex crime, you need a seasoned criminal defense attorney. Joseph Tacopina, a respected legal expert, has extensive experience in presenting a strong defense and fighting for your rights.