Disorderly Conduct / Disturbing the Peace Lawyer in Greeley and Weld County, Colorado
Disorderly Conduct, charged whenever a person is accused of disturbing the peace, is a relatively minor yet still destructive charge. The broad language behind Colorado’s Disorderly Conduct law allows Greeley Police to charge people with this offense for any number of actions, even when no harm results. Additionally, Disorderly Conduct is rarely ever charged alone. Often, this crime can be charged alongside Menacing, Harassment, or Illegal Discharge of a Firearm. If you have been charged with Disorderly Conduct, it is crucial that you seek out the best criminal defense lawyer to represent you at the Weld County Courts.
Greeley Definition of Disorderly Conduct, C.R.S. 18-9-106
In Greeley, the definition of Disorderly Conduct, C.R.S. 18-9-106, is as follows:
(a) Makes a coarse and obviously offensive utterance, gesture, or display in a public place and the utterance, gesture, or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace; or
(c) Makes unreasonable noise in a public place or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy; or
(d) Fights with another in a public place except in an amateur or professional contest of athletic skill; or
(e) Not being a peace officer, discharges a firearm in a public place except when engaged in lawful target practice or hunting or the ritual discharge of blank ammunition cartridges as an attendee at a funeral for a deceased person who was a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or
(f) Not being a peace officer, displays a real or simulated firearm, displays any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a firearm, or represents verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a firearm in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm and does alarm another person.
In general, Disorderly Conduct is charged when a person disturbs the peace or otherwise acts in an offensive manner in a public setting.
Disorderly Conduct – A “Catch-All” Crime Charged by Police Officers in Weld County
Disorderly Conduct is such a common offense charged by police officers in Weld County because it is a “catch-all” crime. That is, because Colorado’s Disorderly Conduct law is so broadly worded, it is all too easy for Greeley Police or the Weld County Sheriff to charge a person with this offense. It is not uncommon for law enforcement to charge a person with Disorderly Conduct for engaging in any action that they do not like. Disorderly Conduct charges help them justify the arrest, even if they have no probable cause whatsoever.
This is why hiring the best criminal defense lawyer to represent you at the Weld County Courts is crucial. If you were wrongly charged with Disorderly Conduct, we will fight to have the charges against you dropped. Anything less than total dismissal is unacceptable.
Disorderly Conduct is Rarely Charged Alone in Greeley
Disorderly Conduct is rarely ever charged by itself in Greeley, Colorado. This offense usually comes with “friends” like Harassment, Prohibited Use of Weapons, or Illegal Discharge of a Firearm. Unfortunately, the broad language of Disorderly Conduct also makes it easy to charge with other crimes. For example, one way Harassment can be charged is by directing “obscene language or an obscene gesture” at another person in public. Similarly, Disorderly Conduct can be charged for publicly making a “coarse and obviously offensive utterance, gesture, or display.” What this means for you is that you should always hire a defense lawyer if you have been criminally charged – especially if you were charged with multiple crimes stemming from the same incident.
Weld County Jail Time & Fines for Disorderly Conduct
Conviction of Disorderly Conduct can result in time at the Weld County Jail and a fine. The length of time you may spend incarcerated and fines depend on whether you were charged with a petty offense, class 2 misdemeanor, or class 1 misdemeanor. See the table below for specific penalties, depending on the action that resulted in the charges:
| Action | Classification | Penalties |
|
Petty offense |
|
|
Class 2 misdemeanor / M2 |
|
| Firing a gun in public | Class 1 misdemeanor |
|
Why Hire a Top Greeley Criminal Defense Lawyer for Disorderly Conduct?
If you have been charged with Disorderly Conduct, it may seem unnecessary to hire a top Greeley criminal defense lawyer to defend you at the Weld County Court for a “minor” criminal charge. However, even petty offense or misdemeanor charges can come with dire consequences. Without the representation of the best defense lawyer, you will face incarceration at the Weld County Jail and a fine of hundreds of dollars. Then, even after you have finished your sentencing requirements, you will be left with a criminal record that will negatively affect your ability to find a job or buy a home. The best criminal defense attorney will protect you from these and other costly penalties. Don’t wait, and call us to get the help you need today.