CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles Failure to Disperse Lawyer

Facing a failure to disperse charge in Los Angeles is not a simple matter. It is a misdemeanor that can lead to severe punishments that include heavy fines, probation, and up to one year in county jail. The charge arises when a defendant fails to move away when ordered to do so by a law enforcement officer. This can occur when a defendant does not leave a crime scene, ignores orders to leave an area, or does not move fast enough. Sometimes officers add this charge to a base crime to increase the severity of the charges. For instance, a defendant involved in a fight could face assault and failure to disperse charges for failure to move when ordered.

Many people are accused of failing to disperse if a loved one or friend is being arrested or in a physical confrontation. Law enforcement officers will command bystanders to leave the area, and if a defendant fails to move or moves too slowly, they face failure to disperse charges. In some instances, defendants may not realize that they are committing the crime. They may not have heard the dispersal orders from the law enforcement officers, while others may be arrested while attempting to disperse or unable to do so because of the situation’s circumstances. Unfortunately, the charges are easy to face.

If found guilty, a defendant may face severe punishments, including up to one year in county jail, thousands of dollars in fines, court costs, and years of probation. Therefore, the defendant needs a criminal defense attorney to handle the situation efficiently and avoid these punishments. An experienced attorney understands failure to disperse cases, and they will work tirelessly to defend the defendant effectively.

A defense attorney will review the case’s circumstances carefully and decide the defense route to take, which could lead to having the charges dropped or reduced to a simple disorderly conduct summary offense. If the case goes to trial, the lawyer’s primary focus will be to defend the defendant until the verdict reads, “not guilty.” All in all, hiring a defense attorney for a failure to disperse case assures that the defendant has a professional lawyer working in their interests. Therefore, if charged with failure to disperse, do not hesitate to call a lawyer to protect your freedom and reputation.