Opinion ID: 2188035
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Disorderly Conduct Charge.

Text: As to this conviction the principal errors assigned are that the evidence did not support the charge and that the sentence imposed was excessive. The Government presented a police officer who testified that from his scout car one night he saw defendant on a public street striking a woman in the back of the head and kicking her; that when the officer stopped them, the woman identified herself as defendant's wife, and then the officer drove away; the officer circled the block and returned, and again saw defendant hitting her and shoving her and that is when I arrested him for disorderly conduct. Defendant and his wife testified that he had not struck her, that they were merely having a family argument and that she had pulled at his coat in an effort to get him to go home. We are asked to rule that the testimony for the Government did not establish a case of disorderly conduct. The contention is that marital squabbles can only become crime if an assault is involved or if it occurs under such circumstances that it might cause a breach of peace. One answer is that the officer's testimony showed a series of two assaults (though assault was not charged). Another answer is that under our disorderly conduct statute, [1] proof of breach of peace is not required. See Scott v. District of Columbia, D.C.Mun.App., 184 A.2d 849 (1962); Carey v. District of Columbia, D.C.Mun.App., 102 A.2d 314 (1954); Morris v. District of Columbia, D.C.Mun.App., 31 A.2d 652 (1943). The trial court imposed a sentence of ninety days, and it is argued that this was excessive, arbitrary and capricious. The argument cannot be sustained. The sentence imposed was within the limits prescribed by the statute and is not subject to review or control by this court. Gaston v. United States, D.C.Mun.App., 34 A.2d 353 (1943), affirmed 79 U.S.App.D.C. 37, 143 F.2d 10; Bohannon v. District of Columbia, D.C.Mun.App., 99 A.2d 647 (1953).