Fighting a “Bogus” Disorderly Conduct Charge in Orlando

By: John Guidry

Disorderly Conduct and Disorderly Intoxication are essentially the same “catch-all” crime in Florida. These are often bogus charges that police use when they don’t know what else to do with someone who is being loud or uncooperative. Rather than de-escalating a situation, they simply put you in handcuffs and take you to jail.

The good news is that these cases are highly fixable. While a conviction can leave a damaging mark on your record, a knowledgeable attorney can often get these charges dismissed entirely.

Charged with Disorderly Conduct in Orlando? Don’t let a bogus “catch-all” charge leave a permanent stain on your record. Call my office to discuss how we can get your case thrown out. Call John Guidry: (407) 423-1117

Two Powerful Ways We Get These Charges Dismissed

While these charges seem simple, they are surprisingly technical and have two major legal weaknesses that we can exploit.

1. The “Police Are Not the Public” Defense This is the most common and effective way to beat a disorderly conduct charge. The law states that to be guilty, you must “corrupt the public morals” or “outrage the sense of public decency.” The key word here is public.

In 99% of these cases, the only witnesses listed on the police report are the police officers themselves. Here is the legal reality: Florida courts have consistently ruled that police officers, due to their training and role in society, are not considered members of the “public” for the purpose of this statute. You cannot legally “corrupt” or “outrage” a police officer with your conduct. If the prosecutor has no civilian witnesses from the bar, restaurant, or hotel to testify, the case should be dismissed.

2. The First Amendment Defense Sometimes, an arrest for disorderly conduct is based entirely on offensive things you said. While the words may have been rude, they may also be protected by the First Amendment. After all, the First Amendment exists precisely to protect offensive speech. If speech were always polite and agreeable, we wouldn’t need a constitutional protection for it. If your arrest was based on words alone, we can often build a powerful free speech defense.

Why You Must Fight This Charge

Don’t make the mistake of thinking a disorderly conduct charge is “no big deal.” When it appears on a background check, it screams drama and problems to a potential employer, landlord, or school administrator. You don’t need that kind of headache. You want this case dismissed, and you want the arrest erased from your record through a seal or expungement.

These cases are far more legally complex than they appear, but they are very beatable. The way to make this charge disappear is to hire a good local attorney and let them go to work. I have been defending clients against these exact types of charges in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia County since 1993. If you’re ready to fight back, give us a call. Good luck.go to work on this and watch it disappear. Good Luck.

For more information on disorderly conduct charges here in Central Florida, check out my video “What If You’re Accused of Disorderly Conduct or Intoxication?“

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.