Weston Disorderly Conduct Lawyer
Weston Police frequently make arrests for disorderly conduct under CGS 53a-182. Many people would be surprised to learn how easy it is to get arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Though this crime is not as serious as a violent felony charge, the impact of a disorderly conduct arrest can cause serious problems for you and your family.
Potential penalties include hefty fines and a short jail sentence. In addition, the arrest and possible conviction become a matter of public record that could impact employment, housing opportunities and online reputation searches.
If you have been arrested for disorderly conduct, then contact a Weston disorderly conduct lawyer who can guide you through the court process to reach the best result possible based on the circumstances of your case. A capable domestic violence attorney could pursue the best possible outcome for you.
How Does the Law Define Disorderly Conduct?
Disorderly conduct is a sort of catch-all law. Police officers may cite this law when they feel that a person is disturbing the peace, threatening to disrupt public life, or simply being a nuisance.
According to Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-182, people may commit disorderly conduct in a variety of ways. These include:
- Engaging in violent or threatening behavior
- Annoying or interfering with another person
- Making unreasonable noise
- Obstructing traffic
- Disturbing a meeting or assembly without legal authority
- Blocking traffic of motor vehicles or pedestrians
- Congregating with others in a public place and failing to disperse when ordered to do so
- Trespassing and observing another person in that individual’s dwelling in a situation where the individual has an expectation of privacy.
In many ways, a disorderly conduct charge can be used to break up otherwise peaceful protests. In others, charges may result from playing overly loud music or yelling in the streets. A Weston disorderly conduct attorney can provide more information about the nature of these charges and what a prosecutor needs to prove to secure a conviction.
Fighting Disorderly Conduct Charges
A CGS 53a-182 disorderly conduct arrest can stem from a wide variety of causes and situations, so there is no single defensive strategy applicable to all cases. Disorderly conduct charges are most often seen in Weston domestic violence cases, as it is the least serious domestic violence crime in the books. Often it can be argued that an individual’s conduct did not rise to the level of criminal conduct or that the police evidence is not sufficient to warrant the charge.
An experienced Weston disorderly conduct lawyer may understand how prosecutors and judges have applied the law in the past, especially in a wide variety of circumstances. This expertise allows many of the best Weston criminal lawyers to craft the best, and most cost-effective, defense in your particular case.
One way that a Weston disorderly conduct lawyer could help is to argue the case at trial. A prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant committed the offense. An attorney could argue that the alleged conduct did not occur or that the defendant was not the party who committed the supposed offense.
In other cases, it may be best to seek out a negotiated plea bargain. In most cases alleging disorderly conduct, both the court and the prosecutor may be open to a dismissal of charges if a person completes community service or participates in another form of pretrial diversion. To learn more about dismissing a disorderly conduct case, click here. These options can see the end of a criminal case without a mark on an individual’s criminal record. An attorney could help to determine if this option is a person’s best choice.
What are the Potential Consequences for a Disorderly Conduct Conviction?
The same statute that defines disorderly conduct in Connecticut labels the offense as a class C misdemeanor. Under Connecticut law, convictions for a class C misdemeanor can result in a maximum penalty of three months in jail. In addition, the court may order a party to pay a fine of up to $500 after a conviction. Or course, a person’s main goal should be to avoid these penalties.
Contacting a Weston Disorderly Conduct Attorney
A disorderly conduct charge may seem minor, but the potential consequences can have a long-lasting impact on your personal life, and in your professional endeavors. So if you are facing disorderly conduct charges in Weston, rather than risk going it alone to court, seek advice and counsel from an aggressive and experienced Weston disorderly conduct criminal lawyer who can serve as your advocate, and help you work toward the best possible resolution of your case. Call today to get started.