Pleading no contest means accepting the punishment without admitting you committed the alleged offense. Entering a guilty plea means you are accepting the charges and choosing not to fight them.The main distinction between "no contest" and "guilty" comes down to whether you accept responsibility for the offense or if you don't appeal a conviction. Evidence of a plea of guilty, later withdrawn, or a plea of nolo contendere, or of an offer to plead guilty or nolo contendere to the crime charged. No contest is the same as a guilty plea, period. It just can't be used against you in civil case. The "no contest" plea does not prevent you from being convicted. Pleading "no contest" means that you are not admitting guilt but are not contesting the charges either. The "no contest" plea does not prevent you from being convicted. A person has the right to plea no contest as opposed pleading guilty.