Disorderly Conduct charges in Washington State can have a significant impact on your life, affecting your employment opportunities because of a criminal record. The Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer has a team of attorneys with the expertise that is essential to defending against Disorderly Conduct charges. Hiring an attorney is crucial to navigating this complex legal landscape and protecting your rights so do not hesitate.

What is Disorderly Conduct?

Disorderly Conduct is defined as activity that disrupts the peace or jeopardizes public order. Fighting, generating loud disturbances, using inappropriate language, or participating in disruptive behavior in public areas can all be examples. Disorderly Conduct rules strive to keep the public calm and protect individuals from boisterous or disturbing behavior.

Creating a Hazardous or Offensive Condition: Actions that create hazardous or offensive conditions includes activities like obstructing traffic, blocking entrances, or engaging in offensive conduct in public spaces.

Making Unreasonable Noise or Engaging in Fighting: Excessively loud and disturbing noise or engaging in physical altercations that disrupt the peace and quiet of memorial services or funerals can be considered Disorderly Conduct. This may involve loud music, shouting, or making unreasonable noise within 500 feet of such events.

Using Abusive Language: Uttering offensive, abusive, or threatening language that is likely to provoke a violent reaction or cause distress to others can lead to Disorderly Conduct charges. This includes verbal altercations, hate speech, or harassing individuals in public.

Disrupting a Lawful Assembly: Intentionally disrupting or obstructing lawful assemblies such as a public meetings, religious services, or lawful protests, can result in Disorderly Conduct charges.

Potential Penalties

In Washington State, Disorderly Conduct can be seen as a minor offense due to how common it is, however, it can carry serious legal consequences. Disorderly Conduct is classified as a Gross Misdemeanor, which carries penalties that can impact your life significantly. If convicted, you may face:

Jail Time: A Gross Misdemeanor conviction for Disorderly Conduct can lead to a jail sentence of up to 364 days.

Fines: The court may require you to pay fines of up to $5,000.00 if convicted. The specific amount varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the offense.

Restitution: You may also be required to pay restitution for any injury or damage caused if you got into a physical altercation with another person.

Criminal Record: A conviction for Disorderly Conduct will remain on your criminal record, potentially affecting future employment prospects, housing applications, and educational opportunities.

Defending Against Disorderly Conduct Charges

If you find yourself facing Disorderly Conduct charges in Washington State, it is crucial to understand your rights and explore potential defense strategies. Here are some common defenses used in Disorderly Conduct cases:

Free Speech Protection: You may have a legitimate defense if your actions were a type of constitutionally protected speech, such as peaceful demonstration or expressing political beliefs.

Lack of Intent: Disorderly Conduct charges typically require the prosecution to prove that you acted with intent to disturb the peace. If it can be shown that your behavior was accidental or unintentional, it may strengthen your defense.

Lack of Evidence: Challenging the evidence against you is a common defense strategy. This may involve questioning the credibility of witnesses, challenging the accuracy of surveillance footage, or identifying procedural errors.

Self-Defense: Self-defense may be an appropriate strategy if the physical altercation you engaged in was a result of being threatened or afraid for your safety.

Civil Compromise: This method allows you to make amends with the alleged victim and offer a payment as settlement for the dispute.

Associated Charges and Their Penalties

A charge that is commonly associated with Disorderly Conduct is Failure to Disperse. As defined by Washington law, Failure to Disperse is when 3 or more people gather as a group and create substantial risk of harm for the people around them and they fail to disperse after an officer asks them to do so. This charge is a Misdemeanor, and can carry up to 90 days in jail along with up to $1,000.00 in fines.

Consulting with an Experienced Attorney

Navigating Disorderly Conduct charges in Washington State can be complex and intimidating. Seeking legal counsel from an experienced attorney specializing in criminal defense is highly recommended. An attorney can assess your case and build a robust defense strategy tailored to your specific circumstances.

Protecting Your Rights and Preserving Your Future

By hiring an experienced attorney, they can help you devise what your next steps should look like in order to safeguard your future. You may ensure that you navigate the legal system with confidence and work for the greatest possible outcome by adopting proactive measures. Remember, the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer specializes in criminal law and is here to assist and guide you through the legal process while defending you to the utmost extent permitted by law.

Don’t hesitate, call the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer today at (360) 334-6277 to schedule your free consultation and help protect yourself, your freedom, and your future.