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Consequences of Pleading "No Contest"

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No Contest vs Guilty

A “no-contest” plea is used in criminal proceedings as an alternative to guilty-pleas, by which the defendant neither admits nor disputes to committing the crime. A no-contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty-plea meaning the crime and penalties will show up in the defendant’s criminal record as a conviction.

The Advantage of a No Contest Plea

"No contest" is a derivative of the Latin phrase “nolo contendere,” which means “I do not wish to contend.” A no-contest plea has only one tangible benefit, relating to civil court. This type of plea often appeals to defendants looking to avoid admission of fault in a related civil case.

For example, your alleged DUI offense also resulted in damage to a storefront. The store’s owner might file a civil complaint against you in order to recover compensation for the damage you caused to the building. If you plead guilty in a criminal case, the owner can offer that plea into evidence in the civil case to prove you are liable for the damage. But if you plead no contest, however, the owner cannot offer that plea into evidence in the civil case.

If you want to know whether pleading no contest is possible – and what the plea would mean – in your case, contact our Memphis criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Stephen R. Leffler, P.C. and schedule a free consultation today.

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