Disorderly conduct charges in Texas are probably more common than you think, and the consequences can be significant. This is exacerbated by the fact that disorderly conduct is often paired with other charges that beget more serious penalties. Further, the charge of disorderly conduct addresses a wide range of activities – some of which are likely to surprise you – that you may not have even thought of as being out of line in the first place.
Disorderly Conduct
As mentioned, Disorderly conduct in Texas can come in many forms, as the following list attests:
Using profane language or making an offensive display or gesture that could lead to a breach of peace in a public place
Creating a noxious odor by chemical means in a public place
Exposing oneself in a public place with reckless disregard for who may be present
Being unreasonably noisy in a public place (other than a shooting range) or near/in a private residence that you have no right to occupy
Threatening or abusing someone else in a public place and in a manner that is deemed offensive
Fighting someone else in a public place
Engaging in peeping Tom activities
Displaying a firearm (or another type of deadly weapon) in a public place in a manner that is intended to alarm others
Discharging a firearm on or across a public road
Discharging a firearm in a public place (other than a shooting range)
Associated Penalties
Disorderly conduct charges can range in classification, but most are Class C misdemeanors, which are punishable by fines of up to $500. Further, a conviction goes on your record and generally stays on your record, which can have lasting implications into your future. Also, if there is any complicating factor involved, it can quickly increase both the charges and the attendant penalties. For example, if you have a firearm on you when you are charged with disorderly conduct, you could be facing a Class B misdemeanor, which can lead to a fine of up to $500 and up to 180 days in jail. Further, disorderly conduct charges are often augmented with additional charges, such as resisting arrest, assault, and/or intoxication – all of which have far more serious legal repercussions.
Your Disorderly Conduct Charges
Because disorderly conduct charges in Texas cover such a broad range of behavior and activities, many people find themselves facing charges before they are even aware of there being an issue. If you have been charged with disorderly conduct, you owe it to yourself, your legal record, and your future to bring your strongest defense.
Contact an Experienced Killeen Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Disorderly conduct charges are nothing to be taken lightly. If you are facing such charges, Brett Pritchard at the Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is a formidable criminal defense lawyer with the legal experience necessary to help you obtain your case’s best possible resolution. We are on your side, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at (254) 781-4222 for more information today.