Pleas

All persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.  Your decision concerning which plea to enter is very important.  Please consider each plea carefully before proceeding.  

Plea of Not Guilty

A plea of Not Guilty means that you are informing the court that you deny guilt in this case, and that the state must prove what it has charged against you.  You have the right to a trial by judge or jury.  At trial, you can defend yourself or you can hire an attorney to represent you.  

If you choose to defend yourself, please be aware that you will be held to the same standard as a licensed attorney.  

Plea of No Contest

A plea of No Contest means the defendant is not contesting the charges filed against them.  The defendant will be found guilty by the court, and assessed a fine and court costs.  Although this plea has a similar legal effect as pleading guilty, the defendant does not admit or deny the charges.  A defendant pleading No Contest may be eligible for Deferred Disposition or the Driving Safety Course option.  Please contact the court office for more information.  

Plea of Guilty

A plea of Guilty is a formal admission of guilt for the alleged offense.  The defendant will be found guilty and assessed a fine and court costs.  A defendant entering a plea of Guilty may be eligible for Deferred Disposition or the Driving Safety Course option.  Please contact the court office for more information.