Let’s say you are charged with shoplifting in Arizona. You hire an attorney and he says the prosecutor has offered a plea agreement and you can plea guilty or no contest. What do you do?
Of course it depends on the situation. For the most part a plea of no contest has the exact same effect as a plea of guilty. Some people may think it sounds better, or looks better to have entered a plea of no contest instead of guilty, but either scenario ends up with a conviction on your record. And the judge will likely advise you that entering a plea of no contest has the same effect as a plea of guilty.
Have additional questions about Arizona criminal law? Contact AZ Criminal Defense attorney Jeremy Geigle at (480) 818-9943 for a free consultation regarding your questions.