Legal Question in Criminal Law in South Carolina

Disorderly conduct
After drinking at a party, I realized
that I was too drunk to drive so I
called a friend to give me a ride
home. On the way back, he got
pulled over for a broken headlight.
He then failed a sobriety test. I
didn�t even know that he had been
drinking. I was then arrested for
misdemeanor Public Disorderly
Conduct (public drunkenness)
although I was given neither a field
sobriety test nor a breathalyzer
test, and I was never read my
rights. However, they did not
charge me for underage drinking.

If I just pay the fine, will this affect
my ability to get a job in education?

If I take it to court, is there any
way that they might add an
underage drinking charge?

This is my first offence, and I am an
Eagle Scout. What are my odds at
getting this dropped if I take it to
court?

Asked on 11/16/08, 5:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Robert Johnston Law Offices of Robert J. Johnston

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Re: Disorderly conduct

Yes. If you pay the fine then you will have that as a criminal conviction on your record and it could seriously affect your ability to get a job. The good news is there are a couple programs that are alternatives to prosecution that can avoid having a conviction. What county are you in?

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Answered on 11/16/08, 5:57 pm

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