What occurs if a defendant pleads "nolo contendere"?

When a defendant pleads "nolo contendere," also known as a "no contest" plea, it means that they are not admitting guilt but are also not contesting the charges against them. This type of plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea in that the court may impose a sentence accordingly.

By entering a nolo contendere plea, the defendant allows the court to treat them as if they had pleaded guilty, which means that they can be punished in the same manner as someone who has admitted guilt. This can be particularly advantageous because a nolo contendere plea can often prevent the plea from being used against the defendant in future civil litigation related to the same incident.

The other options do not capture the essence or legal effects of a nolo contendere plea. The option regarding the case automatically being dismissed misinterprets the implications of this type of plea, as the case proceeds with sentencing rather than being dismissed. The statement about the defendant being found not guilty is incorrect because a nolo contendere plea does not equate to an acquittal. Finally, the option asserting that the plea is not accepted by the court ignores the reality that courts often accept such pleas when they are given voluntarily and intelligently by the defendant.