If your child is facing a college sexual misconduct investigation in West Virginia, you need to take the necessary precautions before you engage with the school or anybody else possibly involved in any capacity, too much is at stake. Being accused of sexual misconduct at college is incredibly serious. Every step in the process in a college sexual misconduct case is critical. The early stages in the case are especially critical because they will set the stage for later aspects of the case. You of course do not want to do or say the wrong thing at any point in the process, but especially early in the process.
Unfortunately, colleges and universities in West Virginia are often in a rush to judgment. They're often not cognizant of an accused student's rights and interests. They will often encourage an interview or a meeting with a respondent, that is the accused student, before the respondent even has the opportunity to appreciate or understand what may be taking place. That meeting or interview should never take place again until you've taken the necessary precautions.
You need to get as much information as possible about the allegations. You need to try to get an understanding as to why the allegations are being made. You need to familiarize yourself with the school's policies on how the case will be addressed and adjudicated. You have to prepare and respond accordingly at the given time to meet with the school but again only at the appropriate time.
An experienced attorney advisor will be able to help you understand when the appropriate time would be, what needs to take place at such an interview or meeting. They'll also be able to help you understand and navigate the process and they'll be able to work towards trying to ensure a fair process and a favorable outcome. They'll also be able to let you know what should be taking place in a given case, what should not be taking place, and what needs to take place.
If your son or daughter is facing a college sexual misconduct investigation at their school in West Virginia, you should have an experienced ally in their corner from as early as possible in the process.
West Virginia colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's college sexual misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Alderson Broaddus College
- American Public University System
- Appalachian Bible College
- Bethany College
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- Bluefield State College
- Bridgemont Community and Technical College
- Concord University
- Davis & Elkins College
- Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Fairmont State University
- Glenville State College
- Huntington Junior College
- ITT Technical Institute Huntington
- Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College
- Marshall University
- Mountain State College
- Mountain State University
- Mountwest Community and Technical College
- New River Community and Technical College
- Ohio Valley University
- Pierpont Community and Technical College
- Potomac State College of West Virginia University
- Salem International University
- Shepherd University
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- University of Charleston
- Valley College Beckley
- Valley College Martinsburg
- Valley College Princeton
- West Liberty University
- West Virginia Business College Wheeling
- West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport
- West Virginia Junior College Charleston
- West Virginia Junior College Morgantown
- West Virginia Northern Community College
- West Virginia State University
- West Virginia University
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- West Virginia Wesleyan College
- Wheeling Jesuit University
It is critical to make certain the college sexual misconduct investigation at your West Virginia school is handled properly and that the accused student's interests are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process. One major reason is because even at colleges and universities where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused is found responsible or not responsible for college sexual misconduct charges.
Unfortunately, some students, families, and college employees make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct at college. Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their college or university will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth. In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct cases would not exist.
Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused's academic and professional future is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a college sexual misconduct advisor to students and others in academia facing sexual misconduct investigations and Title IX disciplinary cases in West Virginia and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National College Sexual Misconduct Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686 or by completing our online form.
