The first thing a person should do when they are charged with a sex crime in DC is to remain quiet and not talk to anybody—except their attorney—about the case. Often, law enforcement agents approach a person and say, “Well, if you have nothing to hide, you should talk to us,” and that is absolutely the wrong thing to do.
A person should never talk to a law enforcement agency without an attorney present. If their attorney is present, they will advise their client to remain silent at this juncture. Essentially, it cannot hurt to remain silent, but it could be detrimental to speak.
Additionally, it is often essential to get an experienced lawyer on board to represent them as soon as possible.