Should I Plead “No Contest” to Crimes in Fort Myers?
After you have been accused of a crime in Fort Myers, you have various options. You could pursue a plea deal and admit your guilt in exchange for a more lenient sentence. You might also plead not guilty and pursue a trial to avoid all criminal consequences. But what about pleading “no contest?” What exactly does this mean, and when might such a plea be beneficial? This is something you might want to ask your Fort Myers criminal defense attorney.
Recent Examples of No-Contest Pleas in Fort Myers
In March of 2025, a Fort Myers man pleaded no contest to a range of charges stemming from a fatal DUI crash in 2022. As a result, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for two counts of DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI causing injury. He also received eight years of probation. Note that the penalty for DUI manslaughter in Florida (a second-degree felony) is up to 15 years for a single count. In other words, this individual could have received a much longer prison sentence.
In other recent news, a 22-year-old Lee County woman pleaded no contest to two counts of petty theft. This individual made headlines after scanning fake barcodes at Target, walking out with $725 of goods at a considerable discount. She was later revealed to be a “TikTok sensation.” As a result of her no-contest plea, she was sentenced to 12 months of probation and avoided jail time altogether.
Why Would Someone Want to Plead No Contest?
The official legal name for a no-contest plea is “nolo contendere,” which is Latin for “I don’t want to argue.” Essentially, the defendant admits neither guilt nor innocence when making a nolo contendere plea. However, they accept that the court will punish them in the same way as if they pleaded guilty.
The key benefit of a no-contest plea is the fact that the defendant never actually admits fault. This can prove beneficial if the defendant expects to face a civil lawsuit in connection to their alleged crimes. For example, the DUI defendant from Fort Myers may have pleaded no contest because he expected a wrongful death claim from the families of the deceased victims.
Many people also plead no contest to protect their public image. For example, the TikTok star (who reportedly has hundreds of thousands of followers) may have chosen a no-contest plea specifically to limit the damage to her reputation.
Can a Defense Attorney in Fort Myers Help Me?
A defense attorney in Fort Myers may be able to help you understand no-contest pleas in more detail. You should know that online research alone will not provide you with a defense strategy, and you’ll need to consider your unique circumstances to determine the most appropriate path forward. You can discuss your situation with The Foley & Wilson Law Firm – so schedule your consultation today.
Sources:
news-press.com/story/news/crime/2025/03/13/tiktok-marlena-velez-theft-sentence-cape-coral-florida/82373911007/
naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2025/03/18/fort-myers-man-sentenced-to-13-years-in-dui-crash-that-killed-2/82499273007/
