Westport Disorderly Conduct Lawyer
Have you been charged with Disorderly Conduct ? While this may seem like a minor offense, it still carries the potential for jail time, fines, probation, and a permanent criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life. Consult a Westport disorderly conduct lawyer as soon as possible for assistance. A top defense attorney could help you build a credible defense.
What Behaviors Lead to Disorderly Conduct Charges in Westport?
According to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 53a-182, any conduct that is disruptive or a nuisance to others may result in disorderly conduct charges. To constitute disorderly conduct, the accused individuals must have intended to inconvenience, annoy, or alarm others, or acted in a reckless manner that created a risk of inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm.
Disorderly conduct charges can also occur when you trespass on the property of others and view them in their residences without consent. Some other examples of disorderly conduct that could lead to an arrest and criminal charges include:
- Threatening to fight or cause physical harm to others
- Obstructing traffic on public streets, roads, or sidewalks
- Disturbing a public meeting by making noise or other disruptive acts
- Gathering with others to rally or demonstrate and refusing to leave
A Westport disorderly conduct attorney can help people facing these charges better understand their implications.
Potential Penalties for Disorderly Conduct
A disorderly conduct arrest is a Class C misdemeanor charge under Connecticut law. If convicted on disorderly conduct charges, you could face a maximum jail sentence of 90 days, a $500 fine, and/or probation. Being on probation can subject you to various conditions, such as random drug testing, alcohol counseling and treatment, and more. A conviction for disorderly conduct also establishes a permanent criminal record that is likely to appear on background checks, whether for employment or other purposes.
How Can an Attorney Help Defend Me?
A wide range of behavior can result in disorderly conduct charges. To a large extent, whether a Westport police officer chooses to arrest individuals for disorderly conduct is a discretionary and highly subjective decision.
While every disorderly conduct case is different, a Westport disorderly conduct attorney may be able to defend you by arguing that your behavior did not warrant criminal charges. A lack of intentional or reckless behavior and the exercise of free speech or assembly rights under the First Amendment may also be available defenses in some disorderly conduct cases.
Consult a Westport Disorderly Conduct Attorney Today
Disorderly conduct charges can have severe implications for your future. As a result, getting the advice of a Westport disorderly conduct lawyer when facing criminal charges may be highly beneficial. Legal counsel may enable you to fully consider the pros and cons of your legal options and determine the right strategy for your case. Call today to get started.