The Three Possible Pleas

Guilty; No Contest And Not Guilty

    A "plea" is the defendant's response the the State's charge in the criminal case.  When the State charges a defendant with an OVUII, there are only three possible pleas that the defendant can respond with: (1) guilty; (2) no contest; and (3) not guilty.

     A "guilty" plea means that the defendant:

        1.    Admits the charge;

        2.    Is not requesting a trial; and

        3.    Agrees to be convicted.

    A "no contest" plea means that the defendant:

        1.    Is not admitting the charge;

        2.    Is just not contesting the charge; and

        3.     Agrees to be convicted.

     A guilty plea and a no contest plea both get you convicted and puts a criminal conviction for OVUII on your record.

        The only plea in response to an OVUII charge that offers the possibility of keeping your record clean is a plea of "not guilty."  A "not guilty" plea does not mean that you are denying that you committed the crime of OVUII.  It means that:

    1.    You are not agreeing to be convicted;

    2.    You have the right to have a trial at which the State is required to adduce evidence sufficient to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and

    3.    You are requesting a trial at which the State must meet it's burden of proof.

    Mr. Mac Master fights DUI cases.  Many of Mr. Mac Masters clients have avoided conviction because he was willing to expend the time and effort necessary to fight their cases and make the State "prove it if they can" at trial.  Talk to Mr. Mac Master about how you can plead "not guilty" and possibly avoid a conviction.

Contact Mr. Mac Master today!

(808) 531-8080

click below to send e-mail to Mr. Mac Master

alohaleg@pixi.com


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