Question

A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of ___________________ made to charge of a felony or any misdemeanor substantially related to the licensee's qualifications, functions, or duties deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section.

a) Not guilty
b) Innocent
c) Guilty
d) No contest

Answer 1

A plea of no contest is equivalent to a conviction for purposes of the section in question, which is typically a part of a plea bargain where the defendant accepts a penalty but does not admit guilt.The correct option is d.

Step-by-step explanation:

The plea or verdict that is considered to be a conviction within the meaning of the section described is a plea of no contest. When a defendant pleads no contest, also known as nolo contendere, they neither dispute nor admit to the charges. This plea has a similar legal effect to a guilty plea, allowing the court to impose a sentence, but the defendant does not technically admit guilt, which can have implications in subsequent civil proceedings. Importantly, a plea of no contest is typically part of a plea bargain, where the defendant agrees to accept a penalty without admitting guilt to minimize legal consequences or uncertainty of a trial outcome.