What legal result does a plea of "nolo contendere" have in court?

A plea of "nolo contendere," commonly known as a no contest plea, has a significant legal consequence in court, as it is treated as a guilty plea. When a defendant enters a nolo contendere plea, they do not admit guilt but acknowledge that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict them. This means that, for the purpose of that particular case, the plea is held equivalent to a guilty plea, leading to a conviction and sentencing as if the defendant had pleaded guilty.

This distinction is crucial in legal proceedings. While the defendant does not formally admit guilt, the outcome is similar in that the court will proceed to impose a sentence based on the plea. Additionally, a nolo contendere plea can be strategically used in some circumstances, particularly in avoiding the implications of admitting guilt in related civil proceedings. In such a scenario, while the defendant might face criminal sanctions, they protect themselves from certain civil consequences that could arise from an admission of guilt.