What You Need to Know About Disorderly Conduct Laws in North Carolina

What Is Disorderly Conduct in North Carolina?

An individual can be charged with disorderly conduct for a broad range of activities. It is charged as a misdemeanor if it is the first offense. Under North Carolina Code § 14-288.4, disorderly conduct is a public disturbance intentionally caused by an individual who engages in the following types of conduct:

Engaging in fighting or other violent actions, or in conduct that creates the imminent threat of violence

Making a gesture, utterance, display, or abusive language which is intended to provoke violence or fighting

Taking possession of or exercising control of a public building or facility

Refusing to leave a public building or facility

Disrupting, disturbing, or interfering with the teaching of students in a public or private educational institute

Engaging in actions that disturb the peace, order, or discipline on a public school bus

Disrupting, disturbing, or interfering with a funeral or memorial service

What Is the Penalty for a Disorderly Conduct Conviction?

A first offense of disorderly conduct is a Class 2 misdemeanor. If convicted, a person could be sentenced to:

Up to 60 days in jail

Fine of up to $1,000

A second offense is a Class I felony and a third or subsequent offense would be a Class H felony. If convicted of a Class I felony, an individual could be sentenced to 3 to 12 months in prison. The sentence increases to 4 to 25 months in prison for a Class H felony conviction.

What Is the Crime of Failure to Disperse?

Another corollary crime to disorderly conduct is failure to disperse. It is often charged when people are exercising their right to protest in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina. Failing to disperse is defined as not dispersing after a reasonable period of time and staying at the scene of an assembly or riot when told by a law enforcement officer or other official to leave.

There must an assemblage of three or more individuals. This crime can also be charged if a person congregates and creates a risk of injury to a person or property.

Failing to disperse is also a Class 2 misdemeanor. If convicted, a person would face the same punishments as for disorderly conduct.

What to Do If You Have Been Charged With Disorderly Conduct or Failure to Disperse

If you have been charged with disorderly conduct or failure to disperse in Charlotte, it is crucial to understand that you may have strong defenses to the charges you face even if you believe you are guilty. They can be based on the inability of the prosecutor to prove the elements of these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt or violation of your important constitutional rights, such as your Miranda rights and your First Amendment right to free speech.

You must take immediate steps to protect your legal rights and help to build a strong defense to the charges you face. Here are important steps you should take:

Do not resist when being arrested. You could face additional charges.
Exercise your right to remain silent. Do not make any statements to the police or anyone else other than your lawyer. Your statements can and would be used against you.
Retain an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A skilled lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation and develop a strong defense strategy to help you get the charges against you dismissed or reduced to a less serious offense.

Related Links:

What You Need to Know About Disorderly Conduct Laws in North Carolina

What Is Disorderly Conduct in North Carolina?

What Is the Penalty for a Disorderly Conduct Conviction?

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What to Do If You Have Been Charged With Disorderly Conduct or Failure to Disperse

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