Pleading “No Contest” v. Pleading “Guilty”
Many people are confused as to what the difference is between pleading no contest and pleading guilty. When a person pleads guilty to criminal charges, they are admitting guilt for the crime they have been accused of committing. When a defendant pleads no contest, they are neither admitting nor denying they have committed a crime.
When to Plead No Contest
There are times when pleading no contest will work to the defendant’s advantage. For example, if a defendant could face a civil lawsuit, he or she may wish to plead no contest. If they were to plead guilty to the charges, their admission could be used as evidence in a civil trial and hurt their chances of avoiding liability in a civil lawsuit. A good example of where this situation would apply is if someone were charged with causing a DUI accident that resulted in death. If the defendant were to plead guilty to the DUI and vehicular manslaughter charges, the victim’s family could use that admission as evidence against the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Experienced Criminal Defense in Wayne County and Oakland County, MI
There are other situations in which a defendant may benefit from pleading no contest versus pleading guilty. If you have been charged with a crime in Oakland County or Wayne County, it’s to your advantage to speak with an experienced Michigan criminal defense lawyer at our office right away. With almost two decades of experience, we can provide you with trusted advice and guidance following a criminal arrest. Should you choose to retain our services, we can review the facts of your case to determine how you should plead to the charges. We genuinely care about your best interest, and are committed to doing everything we can to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.
To schedule a consultation to discuss your case, please fill out a free case evaluation form or click here to contact a Michigan criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman today!