Cecil County Failure to Obey a Lawful Order Lawyer
Failure to obey a lawful order is an offense usually charged in connection with disorderly conduct in Cecil County. This charge may stem from disagreement and could be seen as a bullying tactic on the part of law enforcement officials. But those charged with failure to obey a lawful order could avoid a conviction if the government is unable to prove every element of the crime.
If you are facing failure to obey charges, it could be worthwhile to contact a Cecil County failure to obey a lawful order lawyer for a case evaluation. An experienced defense attorney could explain your options for fighting the charges and the positive outcomes that could result.
Failure to Obey a Lawful Order Penalties
As a Cecil County attorney can further explain, failure to obey a lawful order from a law enforcement official is treated as a misdemeanor offense under state criminal law. Those who are convicted or who plead guilty may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 60 days and required to pay a fine as high as $500.
The criminal record that comes with a conviction could be even more problematic. A conviction could become visible to anyone with an internet connection, and may make employers, lenders and landlords think twice before choosing to trust someone with the taint on their record. Personal relationships may also be affected.
What the Statutes Say About Failure to Obey
The failure to obey offense is part of a larger definition of disorderly conduct offenses set forth in Maryland Code Annotated, Criminal Law §10-201. Specifically, Section 10-201(c)(3) states that someone “may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace.”
So, in order to convict someone of this offense, the government should have to show that:
- The individual failed to obey an order
- The failure to obey was willful and deliberate
- The order was lawful
- The order was reasonable under the circumstances
- The order was made to prevent a disturbance to the public peace
If any of these elements is missing or not substantiated, it could be possible to successfully argue that the individual accused should not be convicted with the help of a lawyer. A Cecil County attorney could assist with collecting and preserving evidence to refute the satisfaction of one or more of these elements of the failure to obey lawful order crime.
Related Offenses Under the Statute
Other forms of conduct are also prohibited by this criminal statute. The statute does not allow people to prevent others from passing in a public place or on public transportation unless they have a lawful purpose for doing so. The law also prohibits individuals from willfully acting in a “disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace.”
Section 10-201 prohibits activities that disturb the peace in public and prohibits activities which could include making loud noises that disturb people on their own property or behaving in a disorderly fashion while on the property of another. A person could consult a Cecil County attorney about questions regarding failure to obey a lawful order or disturbing the peace.
Let a Cecil County Failure to Obey Lawful Order Attorney Assist You
While there are numerous defenses that could be raised to answer charges of failure to obey a lawful order, saying or doing the wrong thing in court could hinder, rather than help your cause.
It could be worth it to contact a Cecil County failure to obey a lawful order lawyer for advice. During a consultation, a criminal defense attorney could explain strategies for fighting the charges and protecting your rights. To learn more about how the laws apply to the circumstances in your case, call now for a consultation.