Our Oregon readers probably know that when a celebrity gets arrested anywhere in the world, the news is going to pop up everywhere. This is true whether or not the arrest is for a serious offense or low-level misdemeanor. The latter occurred recently, involving Gossip singer Beth Ditto, and it just so happens that the arrest occurred right in Portland.
According to the reports, the singer was denied service at a local bar in the early morning hours of March 16. The situation apparently took a turn for the worse at that point, and Ditto was eventually arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. Even though disorderly conduct is a low-level charge at Class B misdemeanor status, the potential penalties are real and can include a significant fine and possibly jail time. The reports indicate, however, that Ditto was released without having to post bail.
Ditto's band, Gossip, is not an incredibly well-known group, but this incident is likely to raise their profile just a bit. The criminal justice process is just getting started in this case, but many cases involving low-level charges like this usually end up being resolved either through a diversion program or a plea bargain.
In Oregon, it doesn't matter whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony - being arrested can cause serious damage to a person's reputation. In many cases, an employer will not even wait for the criminal justice process to play out before firing an employee due to an arrest. Having a criminal record can prevent an Oregon resident from being able to fully participate in society by limiting certain rights and privileges. Anyone facing criminal charges should be sure to consider all of the available options in order to ensure that their rights are protected.
Source: Spinner, "Gossip's Beth Ditto Arrested Outside Portland Bar, Screams 'Obama!'," Jason MacNeil, March 18, 2013
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