You haven’t been arrested. You haven’t been charged. But someone has made a claim—maybe to the police, maybe to a school administrator, maybe even online.
Now you’re wondering:
“Can I really be investigated just because someone accused me?”
In Georgia, the answer is yes. And if you don’t take it seriously, things can spiral fast.
Yes. All it takes to start an investigation is an allegation—not physical evidence, not surveillance footage, not even a sworn statement. Just a phone call or report from someone who claims you committed a crime.
In Georgia, police officers have wide discretion to begin investigating based on:
They don’t need proof to start digging. They only need reasonable suspicion—and sometimes not even that. Investigations often begin before they have all the facts, and before you even know you’re a target.
You’d be surprised how often one accusation opens the door to a full criminal case. Here are real-world examples:
One child tells a parent or teacher something concerning—even if misunderstood, exaggerated, or untrue. Law enforcement opens a case before you’re ever contacted.
A neighbor hears shouting and calls 911. The alleged victim claims abuse, even if there are no marks, no history, and no actual violence.
Someone arrested for possession offers your name to cut a deal. Suddenly, you’re under investigation—without ever being caught with drugs.
A coworker claims you “misused” company funds or “took something.” The company calls police. You’re the subject of a white-collar crime investigation.
These are all cases where an accusation alone can put you in law enforcement’s crosshairs.
Once an allegation is made, here’s how things often unfold:
They assign a detective or investigator. Even if there’s no arrest yet, a formal investigation has begun.
Officers may show up at your house. They might call and ask you to “come in and talk.” They may question people around you. In some cases, they’ll try to get a search warrant or subpoena your digital data.
Police may collect texts, emails, surveillance footage, social media posts, or witness statements—all without your knowledge.
Once officers believe they have enough evidence, they might take one of two paths: present the case to a prosecutor or make an arrest themselves. If they go to the prosecutor, that official will decide whether to issue a warrant, file charges, request more investigation, or decline to prosecute.
At every stage, your words, actions, and even silence can significantly influence what happens next. That’s why it’s crucial to get legal guidance as early as possible.
No, and you shouldn’t without a lawyer present.
You are not legally required to:
Even if you think the accusation is absurd or “no big deal,” anything you say can and will be used against you.
Police are trained to extract incriminating details—even from innocent people. And prosecutors are trained to build charges from vague or out-of-context statements.
Yes, if the accusation leads to probable cause.
Probable cause means law enforcement has a reasonable belief, based on facts and circumstances, that you committed a crime. They don’t need certainty. They don’t need to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. They just need enough to convince a judge to sign a warrant.
That’s how innocent people get arrested, even when there’s no hard evidence.
Unfortunately, false accusations happen all the time.
People lie out of:
But once the accusation is made, you can’t rely on the truth to “come out on its own.” The legal system won’t just dismiss the claim because you say it didn’t happen.
That’s why you need a criminal defense attorney—to investigate the facts, poke holes in the story, and control the narrative before prosecutors do.
If someone has accused you of a crime, even unofficially, treat it like a legal emergency. Here’s how to protect yourself:
Even if they say they’re “just trying to get your side.” Politely decline and refer them to your lawyer.
Don’t try to work it out. Don’t text, message, or call. Contact could make things worse—or lead to new charges like witness intimidation.
Keep it off social media. Anything you post can be screenshotted, subpoenaed, or spun into evidence.
A skilled attorney can:
At J. Ryan Brown Law, we’ve helped countless people shut down criminal investigations before they became formal charges.
We’ve stepped in when:
With early intervention, we can tell your side of the story, challenge weak or false allegations, and protect your future.
Too many people wait until they’re arrested. By then, it’s harder to fix.
If you’re asking, “Can I be investigated based on someone’s accusation?”—that means you’re already at risk.
Call J. Ryan Brown Law today for a confidential consultation.
We’ll tell you exactly what to expect, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself from day one.
J. Ryan Brown Law, LLC
J. Ryan Brown Law, LLC
