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Pleading No Contest Vs Guilty In Virginia
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Multi-State
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US-0018LTR
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FAQ
No Admission of Guilt: The lack of an admission of guilt allows the defendant to maintain a certain level of denial regarding the crime in other legal or personal contexts, which can be crucial for their reputation.
You admit to the allegation. No contest means that you do not admit to actually committing the allegation, you merely admit that the State can produce sufficient evidence for you to be found guilty. In general, no contest is the better way to go, but it probably wouldn't make much difference in your situation.
By maintaining a not guilty plea, you retain the leverage needed to negotiate a more favorable plea agreement. This could result in lesser charges, reduced sentences, or alternative sentencing options that might not be available if you initially plead guilty.
contest plea is a legal option for defendants who do not want to admit guilt but do not want to fight the charges.
This can be advantageous if a trial's outcome is uncertain or if a defendant doesn't want facts in the case to be aired out in public in a criminal proceeding. This can also be done by pleading guilty. However, a no contest plea cannot be used as evidence against a defendant in a civil lawsuit for the same act.
Sometimes people plead not guilty if there's a flaw in the evidence against them, or if there's a valid legal defense they wish to employ. Some may also want to test the evidence against them.
The main difference between a no contest plea and a guilty plea involves civil court proceedings. When you plead no contest in a misdemeanor case, that plea cannot be used against you as an admission of guilt if a civil lawsuit arises from the same conduct on which the criminal prosecution was based.
Both misdemeanor and felony convictions remain on your record indefinitely. A no-contest plea will result in a permanent criminal record for both types of offenses unless you successfully petition for expungement or an order of nondisclosure (sealing).
More info
A no contest plea is also referred to as nolo contender in Latin. When you enter this plea, you are not admitting or denying that you committed a crime.When you plead no contest to charges, you are essentially doing the same thing as admitting guilt in the case. Nolo contendere translates to "I do not wish to contend. " A no contest plea is an alternative to pleading not guilty or guilty in a criminal case in Virginia. Pleading no contest implies that you accept the evidence against you without explicitly stating that you are guilty. Pleading no contest is an alternative to a guilty or not guilty plea. A no contest plea is similar to a guilty plea. When you plead no contest, you technically admit that you are guilty of the crime being charged. My advice is to plead no contest.
