Opinion ID: 2544958
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Seriously Disruptive Behavior

Text: ¶ 10 There is a difference between merely rude or offensive behavior and criminal conduct. The subsection in question criminalizes behavior only when it involves fighting or violence or is seriously disruptive. See A.R.S. § 13-2904(A)(1). Ferrero stated that she did not feel physically provoked or frightened by Julioshe realized that he was merely being defiant. Only the seriously disruptive category of behavior has been charged here. ¶ 11 Under the ejusdem generis principle, unless contrary legislative intent is apparent, when a general term follows specific terms in a statute, the general term is interpreted as of the same class or type as the specific terms. See Hughes v. Industrial Comm'n, 188 Ariz. 150, 153, 933 P.2d 1218, 1221 (1996). Thus, seriously disruptive should be analyzed in light of the first two categories of behavior. To disrupt means to throw into disorder or turmoil, ... to interrupt to the extent of stopping. WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY 656 (3d ed.1971). The statute requires the disruption to be serioussomething to cause considerable distress, anxiety or inconvenience Id. at 2073. We construe seriously disruptive behavior to be of the same general nature as fighting or violence or conduct liable to provoke that response in others and thus to threaten the continuation of some event, function, or activity. The evidence presented at trial was simply insufficient to prove Julio's conduct rose to this level. ¶ 12 The present case is remarkably similar to another recently decided in the same division of the court of appeals, but in which the opposite conclusion was reached. In the case of In re Louise C., 307 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 11, 197 Ariz. 84, 3 P.3d 1004 (1999), the juvenile was charged with intentionally or knowingly disturbing the peace of her high school assistant principal by saying, F this. I don't have to take this s.... F you. I don't have to do what you tell me. She then slammed the door and walked out of the assistant principal's office, in which the principal, assistant principal, and another student were discussing an earlier disagreement between the two students. Id. Though the principal and assistant principal were highly offended by the juvenile's words, neither wanted to physically retaliate in any way and no one outside the office heard the exchange. Thus, the court found that neither fighting words, violence, nor seriously disruptive behavior was involved. Id. The court held, therefore, that the state did not prove criminal charges under either A.R.S. § 13-2904(A)(1) or A.R.S. § 13-2904(A)(3). [2] See id. ¶ 13 We see no real distinction between the operative facts of the two cases. We do not condone the type of behavior in question, but must keep in mind the difference between civil and criminal conduct. Our laws do not make criminals out of adults or juveniles just because they act offensively or rudely or lack respect and control. The type of conduct in this case does not become criminal under our current statutes unless it disturbs the peace of someone by seriously disrupting something. In the present case, the school administrator was not assaulted, did not feel threatened, was not provoked to physically retaliate, and did not feel the need to protect herself. The conduct did not impact the normal operation of the school. In both this case and Louise C., the school administrator suspended the student in accordance with school policy. If further legal consequences are to result, the legislature must provide specific prohibitions. There is a statute making knowing abuse of a teacher or other school employee a misdemeanor offense. See A.R.S. § 15-507. However, Julio was not charged under this statute. Thus, we do not discuss the criteria necessary to justify a finding of guilt under this statute. [3] ¶ 14 We are, of course, quite aware that the schools need the support of our legal system. Under the current statutes, however, we cannot equate a child's acting out through cursing or through angry or defiant words and actions with conduct proscribed by the current criminal statute. We will not attempt to do so by stretching the statute to punish school behavioral problems of a type that, though unfortunately all too common, neither injure or threaten any person nor seriously disrupt any school class or function.