Which plea allows a defendant to plead guilty without admitting guilt or that the law requires the act?

• A. Guilty
• B. Not Guilty
• C. Nolo contendere
• D. Guilty with an Alford Plea

Answer: (C)

A nolo contendere plea lets a defendant resolve the case without admitting guilt or that the conduct occurred. It allows the court to impose a sentence as if the defendant had pleaded guilty, but no admission is made about guilt that could be used against the defendant in most civil cases. This is often used in plea bargains to avoid the potential consequences of an explicit guilt admission in civil liability matters.

Guilty is a straightforward admission of guilt and responsibility. Not guilty denies the charges and requires a trial. An Alford plea involves pleading guilty while maintaining innocence, recognizing that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict, which still communicates some admission of responsibility, so it doesn’t fit the stated condition.