Public disorderly conduct charges have to be taken seriously because they come with harsh penalties. In South Carolina, there are a few different acts that can land you with this charge.
The first is being found in any public place when you are grossly intoxicated or otherwise acting in a disorderly way. The second is using profane language or obscenities when you’re within hearing distance of a church, schoolhouse or public place. The third is if you are found to be under the influence and discharge a weapon within 50 yards of a public highway or roadway.
Each of these scenarios could happen fairly easily. Maybe you drank too much at dinner and are acting disorderly as you left the restaurant. Perhaps you decided to walk home with a friend but were cursing near a school while being obviously impaired. Maybe you shot off your weapon on public land when intoxicated.
Whatever the situation was, it is important that you have support to make sure you can defend yourself. These charges could lead to a misdemeanor and fines. In some cases, you could also be imprisoned.
Public disorderly conduct charges could affect your education or employment
Since public disorderly conduct charges could lead to a misdemeanor, you could end up seeing a conviction negatively impact your education or career. An employer may decide that they don’t want someone who acts that way to represent them or could have a rule in place that terminates the employment of those who are convicted for misdemeanor or felony crimes. Your educational facility may withdraw its scholarship offers, or you could lose your right to certain kinds of funding for your education.
On top of this, your social reputation could be harmed as well.
If you face public disorderly conduct charges, you need support
The right criminal defense can make a difference when you’re facing charges like these. You may be able to get the charges lowered or dropped, helping you avoid the effects of a serious conviction. In this scenario, the right thing to do for yourself is to learn more about the possible penalties and your legal rights and options.
