Pennington Disorderly Conduct Lawyer

Disorderly Conduct Offense in Pennington New Jersey

A fight broke out in a bistro on Route 29 close to Pennington about a year ago. When the police arrived they discovered a man, who appeared intoxicated and injured, in the parking lot. The man refused medical care and became belligerent towards the police, even trying to enter the police car multiple times. He was ultimately placed under arrest for disorderly conduct. Did you made some bad choices one evening? Did you get into a fight and find yourself yelling in public? A conviction for disorderly conduct can lead to stiff penalties that may disrupt your life. If you have been charged with disorderly conduct, consider hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have top disorderly conduct attorneys who can help you minimize the charges against you, or even get the charges dismissed. We offer a free initial consultation. Call us at (609) 683-8102. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case.

Charged With Disorderly Conduct in Pennington

N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2 is New Jersey’s disorderly conduct statute. The statute defines the offense of disorderly conduct as having to types – “improper behavior,” or “offensive language.”

Improper Behavior. To obtain a conviction for disorderly conduct characterized as improper behavior, the prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that:

• The defendant engaged in fighting or threatening, or
• The defendant engaged in violent or tumultuous behavior; or
• The defendant created a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose, and
• The defendant did any of the above with the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly create a risk thereof.

Offensive Language. To obtain a conviction for disorderly conduct characterized as offensive language, the prosecutor must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that:

• The defendant was in a public place;
• The defendant had the purpose to offend the sensibilities of the hearer, or recklessly disregard the chance of doing so; and
• The defendant spoke in a manner that was unreasonably loud, and in offensively coarse or abusive language.

Looking at the incident described above, it appears that the drunk, injured man in the parking lot not only engaged in fighting, but also was engaged tumultuous behavior and created a dangerous condition by trying to enter the police car.

Disorderly Conduct Penalties. Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor, or what New Jersey calls a petty disorderly persons offense, which carries a possible sentence of up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine, with possible community service and/or probation.

Pennington Disorderly Conduct Attorney

Mistakes happen, and it is unfortunate when those mistakes lead to an arrest for disorderly conduct. That is why you should talk to a lawyer before going to Pennington Municipal Court to address the charges against you. The attorneys at The Marshall Firm know the parameters of disorderly conduct charges, and are able to explore all the possible defenses for you. Call (609) 683-8102 for a free initial consultation. Know your legal options before deciding whether you want to represent yourself in Pennington Municipal Court.