What does "nolo contendere" imply in a criminal case?

The term "nolo contendere," also known as a plea of no contest, is a plea by a defendant in a criminal case that neither admits nor disputes a charge, effectively accepting the punishment without admitting guilt. When a defendant chooses this plea, they do not explicitly confess to the crime; instead, they accept the consequences of the charges against them as if they had been found guilty. This can be advantageous because a no contest plea typically cannot be used as an admission of guilt in any subsequent civil litigation related to the offense.

The option stating that the defendant pleads guilty describes a different plea, as "nolo contendere" does not equate to an admission of guilt. Similarly, admitting guilt without sentencing does not accurately reflect the nature of a no contest plea, since it does not involve an outright admission. Lastly, the third option regarding admitting guilt and waiving the right to appeal misrepresents the implications of a nolo contendere plea, as the plea itself does not necessitate an admission of guilt, which differentiates it distinctly from a standard guilty plea. Thus, the choice that correctly articulates the nature of a no contest plea is one that indicates the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment.