Can I Be Arrested For Acting Obnoxiously in Wisconsin?

 Posted on May 18, 2022 in Criminal Law

No one likes to be the target of loud or obnoxious behavior from another person. But where is the legal line, and what are the potential penalties for going too far? In Wisconsin, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense, you may be charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, or stalking, with generally increasing severity of penalties. If you face any of these charges, hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential.

Potential Charges for Obnoxious Behavior

Disorderly Conduct - If you are accused of conduct that is considered violent, indecent, boisterous, profane, or unreasonably loud, you may be charged with disorderly conduct. This can include shouting lewd things at people on the street or acting threateningly. Wisconsin law allows disorderly conduct to be charged if the behavior happened in a public or a private place. The penalty for being found guilty of disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, is a fine of up to $1,000 and a maximum of 90 days in jail.

Harassment - You can be charged with harassment by engaging in harassing or intimidating behavior towards an individual on more than one occasion. This can include threats of violence or actual physical contact. Basic harassment carries a fine of up to $1,000. If harassment is ruled to constitute a credible threat placing the other person in fear of bodily harm or death, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor, with fines of up to $10,000 and a maximum of nine months in jail. Violating a restraining order to conduct the harassment is also a Class A misdemeanor. Repeated harassment violations can result in felony charges.

Stalking – To be charged with stalking, you are being accused of repeated conduct that causes severe emotional distress to another person. This includes the person fearing bodily injury or death to themselves, their family, or another household member.  A conviction on stalking charges is, at a minimum, a Class I felony, with jail time of up to 3 ½ years and $10,000 in fines, with the possibility of more severe penalties based on the circumstances of the case.

Call a Waukesha, WI Stalking Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, or stalking, you need to call Bucher, Wolff & Sonderhouse, LLP. Our Menomonee Falls criminal defense lawyers will provide you with a strong defense and fight against the severe sentences that can come with a conviction. Do not face these charges alone, and do not hesitate to call our office at 262-232-6699 for a free consultation. We are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Source:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/01

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/947/013