Hi, this is Bradley Phillips with Phillips Law. I am a criminal defense attorney here in New Orleans, and today I want to answer some common questions I get when people call after receiving a criminal charge in the New Orleans metro area. One of the big concerns is a lewd conduct charge. It sounds a lot scarier than it really is, so let me explain what a lewd conduct charge usually means.
Typically, in New Orleans, lewd conduct comes down to one of two main things. The most common situation is someone comes to town, has a little too much fun, and cannot find a bathroom, so they get caught urinating in public. It might sound odd, but it happens far more often than you would think. The other common example is people who want to get a pair of beads and end up flashing. That is the second most frequent type of lewd conduct we see.
The first question I usually get is how big of a deal this really is. Often, people come here for a convention or a festival, something happens, and they get a lewd conduct ticket. Then they go home and start Googling it, and what comes up can be pretty alarming. They might see that it is labeled as a sex offense or that it could carry jail time. I want to tell you to pause right there, because that is not what is happening here. Lewd conduct in New Orleans is a municipal violation. It is not even a misdemeanor. It is simply a violation of the laws of the Parish of New Orleans. If you are not from Louisiana, a parish is similar to a county. It is more like a traffic ticket, but one that does require a court appearance. It is nothing like a felony that could have serious, long-term consequences.
Sometimes, though, people do get arrested for lewd conduct instead of just getting a ticket. The next question I usually hear is what happens if you were actually arrested. The reality is that not much changes. You did have to go to jail, post a bond, and get released, so there is that extra step. But after that, the process plays out very much like if you were just given a ticket. You will be given a court date and will have to come back. This is not something you can simply pay online or plead guilty to over the phone. You must appear in court, just like with a ticket.
That leads to another question I often get, which is why not just plead guilty. People think it is not a big fine, so why not plead guilty and move on. The reason is that even though it is minor, pleading guilty still means pleading guilty to a criminal violation. If you do not have any criminal record, you probably do not want to add your first charge over something like this. It is going to show up on background checks. So, if you apply for a job, you will have to explain why you have a lewd conduct charge from your time in New Orleans. If you apply for housing and they run a background check, you will have to explain that too. There is no reason to carry that around if you do not have to.
The other reason you do not want to plead guilty is that hiring an attorney can save you a lot of hassle. I can often make court appearances on your behalf. So, if you came here for Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, a convention, or any of the many festivals we have, and now you are back home, I can help you avoid the cost of returning. You will not have to pay for flights, hotels, food, or miss work or school. I can also help protect your record. If you were arrested, keeping this off your record makes it much easier and cheaper to have it expunged later. Even if you were not arrested, you do not want a criminal conviction following you around for the rest of your life.
I cannot make any guarantees, but I can say that in the ten years I have been handling these types of cases, I have never had a client plead guilty to a lewd conduct charge. If you or a loved one came to New Orleans, had a little too much fun, and ended up with a lewd conduct charge, give me a call. My name is Bradley Phillips, I am a criminal defense attorney here in New Orleans with ten years of experience. You can feel confident you will be in good hands. My number is 504-434-7000. Consultations are always free. Call me, I will answer your questions, and help you put this behind you.
