Site Map - Cowling Investigations - False Allegations Website

Allen Cowling and Cowling Investigations, Inc., has spent many years preparing the information you will find here; information that was specifically designed to assist anyone who is being falsely accused of child abuse, sexual abuse, child molesting, rape, incest, or who has been wrongfully convicted because of a false allegation.

The real key to defending these cases properly is through education. Our primary goal here is to keep our website simple, easy to navigate and to supply as much information as possible, most especially to aid those who cannot afford professional assistance.

All pages on this website are identified below and each includes a brief description to enable someone to find information specific to their individual needs. If you access pages from this sitemap, use the back button on your browser to return here after viewing a page. Also, be aware that many of these individual pages are lengthy and will take time to load, depending on your connection, so have patience. If you have been falsely accused of child abuse, I would strongly recommend that you click onto the following link, then study the material carefully What to Do - What Not to Do When Falsely Accused.

Been Falsely Accused - Numerous individual links that were designed to provide vital information for anyone falsely accused or facing a false allegation of child abuse or child molesting. Each of these individual links is identified and explained below.
Wrongfully Convicted - Information regarding our ability to assist individuals attempting to reverse a wrongful or unjust conviction.
- Our Step-by-Step Procedure - This identifies the steps we take when retained to assist someone attempting to reverse a wrongful conviction. This task will be an uphill battle. There are no shortcuts and impatience will accomplish nothing. Under no circumstances should anyone retain us who has not carefully read and understood the information that has been supplied on this link.
- Why Was Our Son Convicted? - Story of a family's attempt to free their son from prison after he was convicted based on false allegations of child sexual abuse. There could be no better example of ineffective assistance of counsel, or no defense whatsoever.
- Maryland Client Falsely Accused and Wrongfully Convicted - A clear example of an excellent criminal defense attorney who attempted to represent a client charged with child sexual abuse in the same manner that he would defend his other criminal cases. He left the State witnesses unchallenged, got no details from the child accusers specific to their allegations, and left much to be desired in his closing argument.
- Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse? - Issues concerning the sentencing hearing, the attorney's client file and the Court's file.
WebSite Updates - Current information, notes and additions to the website and our latest webpages.
- Our Most Popular Pages. - These are the most popular webpages accessed by visitors to our website.
- Convicted of Child Sexual Abuse? - Issues concerning the sentencing hearing, the attorney's client file and the Court's file.
- Critical Trial Issues - We have combined our latest pages dealing with critical trial issues here.
- What can Happen when Charged with Child Sexual Abuse - A short synopsis of possibilities.
- Polygraph Tests and Psychosexual Evaluations, What I Tell my Clients. - The advise that I give to my own clients who are considering either a polygraph test, a psychosexual evaluation or both.
- What is a GAL or a Guardian ad Litem - A GAL, or Guardian ad Litem, is an individual who is Court appointed to represent the best interest of chilren in many divorce or child custody cases.
- Dealing with Emotions when Falsely Accused - One of the most critical areas that needs to be worked with and unfortunately the one that usually gets over looked the most is the emotional status of the accused. An untreated depression can easily result in an innocent person being convicted in a child sex abuse case.
- Fathers and False Allegations - Discusses allegations of child sexual abuse in divorce and child cases when children of tender years are involved and the misuse of art and play therapy in diagnosing sexual abuse in those cases.
- Some States Refuse to Supply Defendants with Forensic Interviews in Child Sexual Abuse Cases - This is a very important issue for anyone who has been falsely accused of child sexual abuse and finds that the State they are charged in will not allow a defense expert to examine the forensic interview tapes in their case.
- Selecting the Right Child Evaluator in any Case Where Sexual Abuse Allegations Have been Made - So many cases are lost when people retain what they believe to be a professional evaluator, only to learn later they were nothing more than a "validator" who supported child abuse simply because a child made an allegation.
- How to Handle a Child that Recants and Allegation of Sexual Abuse Following a Trial and a Conviction - This is a very serious and delicate matter that should be handled properly and without shortcuts.
- Our Procedure when Dealing with Family Services and the Police in False Allegation Cases. - In most cases, our client is our greatest asset and over the past 20 years, I have had many cases where we have used a specific interview strategy successfully with our clients that has resulted in providing us with critical information about their case as we prepared their defense. Do not attempt this procedure without careful planning and strategy. It will not work everywhere and it will not work for every individual..
- Is Your Attorney Honestly Defending You? - Advice to anyone regarding their attorney when facing criminal charges of child molesting.
How to Contact Us - Our corporate address, office telephone number, facsimile and cellular telephone numbers.
Our Main Expertise - A detailed history of why we got into false allegation investigations.
Investigative Background - History of Allen Cowling's investigative background.
Investigative Experience - History of Allen Cowling's investigative experience.
Legal Experience - Allen Cowling's legal experience assisting Pro Se clients with writs, legal research and strategy.
Prior Case Histories - A few examples of Allen Cowling's prior case histories.
Books by Cowling - Books written by Allen Cowling, dealing with marital crisis, business theft and alarm system basics.
Seminars by Cowling - Seminars conducted by Allen Cowling.
Investigative Training - Private investigative training course, designed, written and taught by Allen Cowling, since 1985.
Security Training - Security officer training program, designed, written and taught by Allen Cowling, since 1980.
Media Coverage - Allen Cowling's prior media coverage dealing with various investigations previously conducted.
Our Policy - Our basic policies specific to contacting us, our recommendations to the falsely accused and our basic fee policy.
Services We Provide - A listing of the various services provided to clients by Cowling Investigations, Inc.
- Legal Malpractice - The majority of our legal malpractice investigations result from the poor representation a client received that resulted in their being wrongfully convicted.
- False Allegations and Retaining Proper Asistance - Explains what can happen when someone defends against a false allegation of child sexual abuse in a panic.
- Defending the Falsely Accused - Explains how we begin any case when dealing with a client who has been falsely accused.
- Coping with Adultery - Although we consult only on domestic cases, we have provided a detailed and comprehensive study to assist anyone forced to cope with adultery in their marriage.
- Truth Verification Testing - Lie detection using the PSE, voice stress analyzer.
- Electronic Invasion Countermeasures - Detection of telephone "taps" and "bugs," or RF transmitters.
- Child Custody Investigations - Our involvement in child custody investigations.
- Child Abuse Investigations - Our involvement in potential child abuse cases.
- Wrongful Death Investigations - Investigation of wrongful death cases. Was it suicide or murder?
Our Fees - Our Standard fees.
- Out-of-State - Our daily rates when working outside the state of Mississippi. This page is linked directly to "Corporate Fees."
- Flat Fee Retainer - This is an alternative to our hourly rate and is available only to "already established" clients who have been falsely accused and where they expect that our projected involvement will be detailed and lengthy. This option assures our continued involvement in a case until it's completion, regardless of how long it takes.
Our Disclaimer - Clearly states that Allen Cowling is not an attorney and that nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice.
Our Favorite Links - Various links that we have found interesting as well as beneficial.
Allen's Personal Page - Allen Cowling's personal webpage, photo and basic background history.
Questions or Comments - Email Cowling Investigations, Inc.'s WebMaster with questions or comments regarding this web site.

Introduction - A basic introduction to false allegations of abuse. Very useful information for anyone falsely accused.
Our Expertise - Our expertise and methods of assisting clients in false allegation cases and preparing a defense strategy for them. This page carefully details exactly what we do and how we do it when it comes to defending a client who has been falsely accused of child sexual abuse.
- The Falsely Accused and Judgment Day - Criminal trial ends and a verdict is reached for accused - Judgment Day!
Prior Questions - Prior questions and issues that we have responded to regarding false allegation issues. This is an excellent source of information for anyone who is being falsely accused because many of these questions and responses may easily resolve issues of concern to them.
Your Attorney - Information provided to assist the falsely accused when they select an attorney to represent them.
- Basic Laws - Covers basic laws specific to false allegations of abuse, such as mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, penalties for failure to report, central registries, expungement of records, the use of closed-circuit television testimony, admitting videotaped depositions or testimony, admitting videotaped interviews or statements, child hearsay exceptions, competency of child witnesses to testify, child witness, support persons in criminal proceedings, special statutes of limitations for offenses against children, special procedures in criminal child abuse cases and sexual offense crimes.
- Attorney Issues - Specific issues designed to determine if a prospective attorney honestly has experience in defending a false allegation case. Many claim they do, yet those claims often are far from the truth.
- Defense Motions - Possible motions to be considered by any attorney representing a client who has been falsely accused.
- Attorney Problems We Encounter - While most attorneys we work with are professional, able, competent and caring, occasionally we do encounter problems, some of which are identified here.
- Defending the Falsely Accused at Trial - Various trial procedures and considerations for an attorney defending a client that has been falsely accused, including example questions for jury voir dire.
- How Our Clients Retain the Proper Attorney - The step-by-step procedure that many of our clients use to locate and then retain the proper attorney to represent them.
- The Taint Hearing in False Allegation Cases - An excellent defense tool when defending a false allegation of child sexual abuse where multiple interviews and/or leading and suggestive questioning techniques have been used by the State.
  - Motion for Pre-trial Taint Hearing to Determine Reliability of Complaining Witness' Testimony - Example wording used in preparation of a Pre-Trial Motion for a Taint Hearing.
- What You Should Know Before You Accept a Plea - Some reasons for and some consequences of the falsely accused accepting a plea bargain.
- When Your Attorney Says You Can't Prove Innocence - Unfortunately, this is usually the initial advise given to a client by an attorney who has absolutely no experience in defending a false allegation of sexual abuse. This case history clearly identifies that, although seemingly "off-the-wall," there are ways to prove that an allegation is a lie.
- What False Allegation Defense Attorneys Should Know - Well documented research for any attorney defending a false allegation of sexual abuse case.
  - Forensic Interviews of Children - A comprehensive explanation of "Forensic Interviews of Children: The Components of Scientific Validity and Legal Admissibility," by Nancy E. Walker, Associate Director of the Institute for Children, Youth and Families, Michigan State University.
- The Father and Child Custody in False Allegation Cases - A comprehensive evaluation and study of what is necessary for a father to gain custody of his children when faced with false allegations of child sexual abuse. This is a lengthy page, outlines a basic strategy for success and identifies the proper use of experts in these cases. Material here will assist anyone who is being falsely accused in properly preparing a defense.
- Defense Attorney's Ego and Conviction for the Falsely Accused - Our first client conviction in 12 years and why it happened. A perfect example of ineffective assistance of counsel and an attorney's ego that resulted in his defending the case "his" way, which resulted in a 45 year conviction for a 62-year-old innocent man.
- But I had the Best Criminal Attorney in the State! What Happened? - An actual case analysis examines the normal criminal defense attorney and why things just don't seem to get done in false allegations of child sexual abuse cases.
Why Lies Multiply - Explanation of why a false allegation of sexual abuse made by a child can easily and quickly become multiple allegations.
- Unacceptable Child Interviewing Techniques - An excellent example of improper child interviewing techniques and how a "biased" interviewer can "lead" a child into making a false allegation. A lengthy page with a great deal of information specific to proper protocol and procedure.
- - Department of Justice Recommendations for Interviewing Children - Recommendations for interviewing children prepared by the United States Department of Justice.
Defense Costs - A brief look at the overall cost in defending a false allegation case. There may be fees to consider that the inexperienced may never realize.
Plea Issues - Issues to think about when considering a plea. Know what you are really agreeing to and how it can affect your life.
Critical Trial Issues - Six individual links that deal with critical trial issues the falsely accused may face. These links can help the falsely accused or their attorney.
- Defending False Allegations of Abuse at Trial
- How Trials are Won and How they are Lost
- The Falsely Accused at Trial
- The Falsely Accused and Winning at Trial
- Dealing with a Child's Testimony at Trial
- How I Assist My Clients and Their Attorneys at Trial
Questioning Experts in False Allegation Cases - A listing of possible questions to ask any therapist either in deposition or at trial. One of the most important aspects of preparing a defense for anyone falsely accused of child sexual abuse is in the proper and adequate questioning of experts involved in the case, whether they are defense or State experts.
Been Arrested? What can Happen - Various things that can happen to the falsely accused if they are arrested.
Protect Yourself - Record - The importance of audio recording in false allegation cases in order to preserve evidence as you prepare a defense.
Assessing Abuse - Discusses factors that affect the reliability of children's statements and provides guidelines for evaluators to help minimize the risk of their contaminating a child's report of sexual abuse.
Testing We Use - Various testing, psychological and other wise, we use and recommend to our clients when we are defending them against a false allegation.
- Success Story - One client's story following his two-year ordeal in dealing with false allegations of sexually abusing his daughters. All abuse allegations were destroyed and our client got custody of the two daughters he was "alleged" to have molested. The court ordered any future visitation between his wife and his daughters to be supervised and his wife was ordered to pay him child support and nearly 1/2 of his legal fees for making false allegations. A true success story from beginning to end and a perfect example of what a father can do when they refuse to give up, regardless of what they are faced with.
- Abel Psychological Testing - Our use of the Abel Screen and other psychological testing as a means of preparing a defense strategy for the falsely accused.
Medical Reports - The use of medical reports in false allegation cases, especially by the prosecution and the presence or lack of findings, as well as how that can benefit or damage an accused in their overall defense.
Laws on Recording - Each state has it's own law specific to recording telephone conversations or interviews. This provides a state-by-state description identifying which are one-party and which are two-party states.
PreTrial Discovery - What pretrial discovery entitles an accused to. To the falsely accused, many times proper discovery easily can mean the difference between conviction or acquittal.
Police and DHS - Dealing with the police and social services in false allegation cases. The what and what-nots to do when dealing with these individuals or agencies.
Criminal Procedure - Basic criminal procedure to assist someone who has no knowledge of the system. Assists in realizing what potentially could be ahead and what a falsely accused may have to deal with.
Video Taping - Videotaping interviews with a child accuser. There is absolutely no justification in not having any and all interviews with a child accuser recorded.
- Why the Courts Must Insist on Electronically Preserved Recordings of Child Interviews. - This is an excellent article written by Doctors Steven Ceci and Maggie Bruck, the authors of "Jeopardy in the Courtroom," a book published by the American Psychological Association and considered by many to be the definitive in the scientific examination of children's testimony.
Expert Testimony - Excluding some expert testimony that could be used against a falsely accused. Many state experts, such as psychologists, will offer testimony stating that a child matched the profile of a sexually molested child. There is no such profile and that testimony served no purpose other than inflaming the jury against the accused.
Child Suggestibility - The suggestibility of a child witness. A defense attorney must know what they are dealing with regarding a child witness, the number of times that child was interviewed, etc. In some cases, multiple interviews by inexperienced examiners can actually taint a child's testimony.
Court Evaluations - Court ordered child evaluations. If the State is using an expert psychologist, it may benefit the defense to petition the court to order an independent evaluation.
Child Recanting - Dealing with a child after they recant a false allegation. Many an accused are fooled into believing that just because a child recanted an allegation, their problem is over. In some cases, nothing could be further from the truth.
Treatment PreTrial - Should a child accuser be treated as a "victim" prior to trial? When a child makes an allegation, they are a complainant, not a victim. Treating them as a victim, in many cases, serves only as a means of having the child allege additional allegations.
Penile Plethysmograph - Use of the penile plethysmograph in false allegation cases. Generally accepted in the scientific community as a means of treating sex offenders, but not accepted as a tool for identifying a sex offender. Can be valuable in the defense of a falsely accused, but only if used correctly.
S.A.I.D. Syndrome - Sexual allegations in divorce have reached such an epidemic proportion that it has been identified as a syndrome.
S.A.C. Dolls - Sexually anatomically correct dolls, also referred to as sexually detailed dolls and their use in false allegation cases.
Polygraph Testing - Benefits of proper polygraph testing and basic procedure.
Pro Se Issues and Laws - Information and laws to assist individuals acting Pro Se, without an attorney.
How to Research - Basics on how to conduct legal research. Anyone who has been falsely accused would benefit from understanding at least some points of how to conduct research.
Legal Research - Various legal research links to assist the falsely accused, including identification of individual federal circuits and state-by-state data.
The Experts - Some experts in false allegation cases.
Suggested Reading - Recommended reading for the falsely accused.
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy - Investigative procedure into Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Parental Alienation Syndrome - A very real, but seldom addressed syndrome where one parent attempts to poison a child against the other parent.
Custody Evaluations by Experts - Why custody evaluations by experts leave a great deal to be desired.