Cleveland, OH criminal defense attorney Jay Milano gives his advice for people charged with a sex crime. He shares that he has been a criminal defense lawyer for over 40 years, following in the footsteps of his father, who practiced for just as long. They worked together extensively, accumulating decades of experience. In his view, the one area where innocent people are most likely to be found is in sex crime cases. Society, he notes, is hysterical about sex, and there is an intense fear that if anyone is given the benefit of the doubt, they might turn out to be truly dangerous. He clarifies that committing sex crimes does indeed indicate malicious intent, but many allegations—especially those arising from divorces—are often driven more by personal conflict than by factual evidence.

His advice to anyone facing such accusations is to understand that the moment the allegation surfaces, it feels like being struck by an axe, and the scar it leaves never fully heals. He warns that clients will wake up in the middle of the night consumed by the situation, replaying it over and over in their minds. The key, he emphasizes, is perseverance. These cases are long, grueling, and emotionally taxing, and clients must be prepared for a world they cannot imagine. Yet, in the end, most innocent people—or those whose cases have been blown out of proportion—do come out fine. It requires sustained effort, patience, and the support of family and skilled lawyers, but justice can prevail.