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If you’ve been charged with disorderly conduct in Arizona, it’s crucial to understand the law and your defense options. Disorderly conduct charges can have severe consequences, and navigating the legal system can be complex.
Alcock & Associates is a trusted law firm specializing in criminal defense. Our criminal defense attorneys have defended hundreds of disorderly conduct charges in Arizona for over two decades. We know that a disorderly conduct charge can enormously impact your life, and we commit ourselves to provide you with the focused and aggressive representation you deserve. Our ultimate goal is to win your disorderly conduct case.
Disorderly conduct allows police to arrest people who disturb the peace and quiet of a neighborhood. This is a very broad standard. Unfortunately, many good people get arrested by the police for little more than shouting.
Many disorderly conduct cases involve fighting words, which include abusive or offensive language. Encouraging a crowd to say profane things can also lead to a disorderly conduct arrest. Racial slurs are fighting words.
However, it is possible to be charged with disorderly conduct for merely “failing to obey” a police officer’s order. In many cases, police arrest people for failing to back up fast enough or cross the street to an adjacent sidewalk. And our firm’s goal is to help our clients navigate through the sometimes confusing details of a disorderly conduct charge.
When handling a disorderly conduct case, we thoroughly examine the circumstances that led to the arrest and evaluate all possible defenses. Did the arresting officer have the right to stop, detain, and arrest you? Are there witnesses who contradict the police officer’s report? Is there video evidence that shows that your conduct was reasonable? All these factors are closely examined when we represent someone accused of disorderly conduct.
Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor unless it involves displaying or discharging a weapon. It can be charged as a domestic violence offense if the alleged victim is a family member or someone you live with. Because of this, people charged with disorderly conduct can face a very wide range of consequences.
Please remember that most people charged with disorderly conduct in Arizona do not serve a significant amount of time in jail. If you have any questions about the consequences of your disorderly conduct case, please call us for a free consultation.
From our blog – CHARGED WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT? WHAT NEXT?
A. A person commits disorderly conduct if, with intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, family or person, or with knowledge of doing so, such person:
B. Disorderly conduct under subsection A, paragraph 6 is a class 6 felony. Disorderly conduct under subsection A, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is a class 1 misdemeanor.
Our staff of experienced attorneys, including many former prosecutors who know the other side of these cases, has had a lot of positive results for our clients. They will work hard for you and strive to deliver the best results possible.
In Arizona, disorderly conduct charges can be categorized into misdemeanors and felonies. Most felony disorderly conduct cases involve the display or discharge of a weapon or instances of shooting guns in the air. However, the statute allows people to also be charged for waving a gun around.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s office has policies regarding weapons cases. In particular, they aggressively prosecute those who have discharged a gun recklessly. If you are charged with this section of disorderly conduct, we advise you to contact our attorneys for a consultation prior to your first court appearance.
For those charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, keep in mind that you will usually be given some time to hire an attorney. The first court appearance is an opportunity to enter a plea of not guilty. From there, the disorderly conduct charge is set for a number of pretrial conferences.
Although you are legally entitled to represent yourself in court on a disorderly conduct charge, you should at least consult with our criminal defense attorneys before appearing in court or making any major decisions.
Unless the charge involves the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, disorderly conduct is classified as a class 1 misdemeanor. A conviction for class 1 misdemeanor disorderly conduct can result in up to 6 months of incarceration, fines and surcharges of around $2500, and a probation period of up to 3 years. In cases where disorderly conduct is charged as an act of domestic violence, the defendant not only faces legal penalties but also loses the right to own or possess firearms and must complete a mandatory domestic violence program.
Disorderly conduct may be a felony charge if firearms are involved. If this happens, the charge will be upgraded to a class 6 felony. A conviction for felony disorderly conduct can result in a maximum of three years in prison and larger financial penalties. Repeat offenders face harsher punishments.
In lieu of the maximum jail/prison term, the court may impose felony supervised probation, mandatory counseling, jail time, and any other measures that it deems necessary and appropriate based on the circumstances of your case.
Moreover, being labeled as a convicted felon can have lifelong consequences in various aspects of your life, including employment opportunities, housing, and civil rights.
Most of the people who have been charged with disorderly conduct do not face lengthy prison sentences. But even if no prison sentence is involved, a disorderly conduct conviction can tremendously impact the rest of a person’s life. Felony disorderly conduct charges can result in long probation terms on top of other penalties, so it is always best to seek expert legal help to minimize the consequences.
Please contact one of our criminal defense attorneys to discuss the details of your disorderly conduct case. We offer a free consultation and can answer many of your questions over the phone. Call us at 602-989-5000.
Not usually. Most disorderly conduct charge convictions either result in probation or some jail time and probation.
Not necessarily. The attorneys at Alcock & Associates can help you to determine if the State can prove a case against you and then help you to determine the best defense route to take.
Defending yourself in a fight is justifiably excused behavior in Arizona, and we can help you with that defense. If you brought a gun to a fist fight -that could be a felony, and is something you’ll want to come in and talk to us about.
Disorderly conduct misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail. Probation is also an option.
Disorderly conduct felony carries up to 1.5 years in prison, but probation is also usually available here as well.
Yes. There are a lot of ways to defend this type of charge. For example, recklessly handling a weapon requires that the state prove that you were reckless, that you handled the weapon, and that you intentionally or knowingly disturbed the peace. Our attorneys can work for you and help you.
No, there are other resolutions that your attorney can seek. Your attorney can seek a resolution before trial such as an early dismissal or a favorable plea bargain. Our attorneys can guide you as to the best path for the best resolution among your options.
Aquí en Alcock y asociados Nuestro equipo y personal se dedican a ayudarle y representarle. El primer paso es comprender su caso. Nos tomaremos el tiempo necesario para conocerlo a usted y su situación legal para poder responder a todas sus preguntas de la mejor manera posible. Después de su consulta inicial con nuestros abogados, sabrá a qué se enfrenta y qué puede suceder con su caso.
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Alcock & Associates PC
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Phoenix, AZ 85004
