Disorderly Conduct Charge or Arrest
A person can lose their composure for reasons entirely outside of their control. For example, an encounter with an unreasonable individual can quickly escalate out of control to the point where someone is arrested, charged, or they receive a criminal complaint that charges them with Disorderly Conduct. An experienced and zealous attorney is pivotal to help you minimize the risks and potential penalties associated with a disorderly conduct charge. My criminal defense law firm, Roberta A. Heckes, Attorney at Law, welcomes the opportunity to assist you. You will work with me directly to resolve your charges. You will not be passed on to another attorney or associate.
In Wisconsin, under §947.01 Wis. Stats.[1], disorderly conduct can occur in many ways, including "violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud, or otherwise disorderly conduct". That conduct can occur in either a public or private place. However, that conduct must rise to the level of causing or provoking a disturbance, under the then-existing circumstances. Not all disruptive conduct is disorderly conduct. Each case, including yours, is fact-specific. I concentrate on finding out the facts that may mitigate or negate the charge completely. You may not be aware of defenses to your disorderly conduct charge. That is why you need an experienced and zealous lawyer to help you.
In Wisconsin, disorderly conduct is a Class B misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of 90 days jail and/or $1,000 fine. That maximum penalty can be increased if you have a weapon, even something as small as a pocket knife, when the disturbance occurs.
Since disorderly conduct covers a wide range of alleged behaviors, it is easy for the police or sheriff to arrest you for some reason. Anytime there is a disturbance, the police want to take control of the situation and calm things down. They are most likely to arrest people for disorderly conduct, even when it is based on superficial information. This is especially true if you do anything to annoy the officers when they are at the scene. Unless the arrest has some legitimate basis and substantial basis to back up the charges, I will ask for a dismissal either at the initial appearance or when additional facts come to light to support requesting a dismissal.
If you are charged with disorderly conduct or any other misdemeanor, I'll also argue for a reduction in the charges to an ordinance violation. If I am able to negotiate a misdemeanor to an ordinance violation, it changes the charges into a non-criminal offense with only a fine as a penalty for a "no contest" plea. This is a very effective way to resolve such charges with the least amount of damage to a person's reputation.
Please call me for a criminal defense consultation on disorderly conduct or any other criminal charge. Call me now at 888-703-2826.
All references are to the 2007-2008 edition of the Wisconsin Statutes unless otherwise stated.
