In Greeley, Colorado, you will need a Greeley criminal lawyer if you receive a Disorderly Conduct charge. Recently in Aspen, a man was first charged with Disorderly Conduct after he coughed on an elderly woman while hiking. The man and a friend were hiking, when other hikers approached and asked them to move over. This is when the man is accused of approaching the elderly woman and intentionally coughing in her face. The man was initially charged with Disorderly Conduct, because he intentionally coughed in the woman’s face during a worldwide pandemic. His reckless conduct was viewed as a breach of the peace.
What is the Definition of Disorderly Conduct in Weld County?
In Weld County, Disorderly Conduct is defined by C.R.S. 18-9-106, as when someone:
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(a) Makes a coarse and obviously offensive utterance, gesture, or display in a public place and the utterance, gesture, or display which 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 deadly weapon, displays any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a deadly weapon, or represents verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm.
What are Some Examples of Disorderly Conduct in Greeley, Colorado?
Examples of Disorderly Conduct in Greeley, Colorado are:
- Cursing loudly in a public place
- Yelling “fire” in a theater
- Fighting in a bar
- Driving donuts in a parking lot
- Playing loud music from your vehicle
What is the Sentence for Disorderly Conduct in Weld County?
If you are convicted of Disorderly Conduct, you could face three different sentences in Weld County dependent on what you did: a class 1 petty offense, class 3 misdemeanor, or a class 2 misdemeanor. It would be a class 1 petty offense if, like the man mentioned above, you were convicted of coughing on someone. However, you could also end up violating a county public health order. If an offense like this had been committed at a funeral, it is elevated to a class 2 misdemeanor. Finally, it would also elevate to a class 3 misdemeanor if the man physically fought with the woman. If the man had a disease, like COVID 19, which might impair an elderly woman’s life, then he could be charged with attempted murder – or even murder if she got the sickness and died as a result.
What are the Penalties for a Disorderly Conduct Conviction in Greeley, Colorado?
In Greeley, Colorado, the penalties for a Disorderly Conduct charge and conviction depend on the class of the offense.
Class 1 Petty Offense:
- A fine up to $500, and/or,
- Up to 6 months in the Weld County Jail
Class 3 Misdemeanor:
- A fine between $50 – $750, and/or,
- Up to 6 months in jail
Class 2 Misdemeanor:
- A fine between $250 – $1,000, and/or,
- 3 months – 12 months in jail
Even though misdemeanor offenses don’t often seem serious, you can face significant potential penalties in Greeley, Colorado, if you are convicted of any crime, even a misdemeanor. You should always consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer if you have been given a Disorderly Conduct charge.