Disorderly conduct and breach of peace are part of the same Florida law, and any violation is punishable by second-degree misdemeanor charges. While not the most serious criminal offense, a criminal conviction for disorderly conduct could leave a permanent stain on a person’s background. A conviction could also come with the possibility of a jail sentence of up to 60 days, fines and reporting probation. Do not gamble with your future by showing up to court without the assistance of a skilled lawyer. Benjamin Herbst is a South Florida criminal defense lawyer who specializes in disorderly conduct and breach of peace charges in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. He is also an experienced Treasure Coast criminal lawyer for clients facing charges in Martin and St. Lucie County. Benjamin is available 7 days a week at (954) 543-0305 for a free consultation, and has flexible office hours in his Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach office locations. He is also willing to travel anywhere from Miami to Port St. Lucie to meet in a convenient location to discuss the case.
Disorderly conduct is defined under section 877.03 as committing an act that corrupts public morals, outrages the sense of public decency or affects the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them. It also includes fighting, brawling or any other conduct that constitutes a breach of peace or disorderly conduct. The definition is so broad that the name of the crime is part of the description. This means the offense is highly subjective, and police officers have a great deal of authority to charge a person whenever they feel a violation has occurred. This often results in innocent parties being charged, including those trying to defend themselves in a fight or even bystanders that are doing nothing more than walking by. If you have been charged with disorderly conduct anywhere in South Florida, Benjamin will fight to have your charges dropped or dismissed. He has successfully defended numerous defendants in disorderly conduct cases, and never backs down from taking the case to trial if the state is being unreasonable.
Police officers are often the only state’s witnesses in disorderly conduct cases, and Benjamin has extensive experience cross examining officers. He will make the judge or jury understand that police are often biased, and make routinely make mistakes when deciding who to charge. Benjamin provides all clients with his cell phone number, and he is always available on nights and weekends to discuss your case. In addition to fighting for the best possible outcome, it is a major priority to keep his clients informed at all stages of the case. Disorderly conduct cases are common in the nightlife areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Police assigned to these areas at nights, and especially on weekends, have a reputation for being too quick to charge a person, but Benjamin will not allow these cases to hold up in court. He fights for all clients, and has years of experience representing out of state defendants who are charged while visiting in Florida. He understands that fighting a case from another state can add a whole new set of challenges and stress, but he will assure that his out of state clients are protected with the best possible representation. Contact Benjamin today to find out what defenses may be available in your Florida disorderly conduct case.