What are the differences between pleading no contest and guilty?

Full question:

This is my situation: I'm a college student in Tallahassee, One night I was at a party in my apt. complex. It was getting late so i decided to leave but when i arrived at my apt. I couldn't find my keys. I walked back over to the party to go look for them. When i got back i was knocking on the front door but no one could hear me because the music was blasting inside. I decided to walk around to the back doors (which are glass) to try and get someones attention inside. The first time i knocked on the glass doors, still no one heard me. The second time I banged on the door with my fist and the door shattered. I had to get stitches and the police charged me with criminal mischief over $200 under $1000. My question is: in a case like this what is the difference between pleading no contest and pleading guilty. i did not intentionally break the door. Also i was wondering what kind of punishment I might receive since this is my first offense. I decided not to hire an attorney so i would like to walk into court feeling some what knowledgeable. Also I missed my first court date because i had no idea i was supposed to appear in court. After the broken door incident i moved to another apartment complex and didn't get my mail for a long time. I turned myself in the same day as my court date as soon as I found out i had missed it. Will this complicate things in court tomorrow? Is the judge going to even ask what happened that night or is he just going to ask me how I plea to the charge?

• Category: Criminal
• Subcategory: Pleas
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Florida

Answer:

You could be fined up to five hundred dollars and/or face up to sixty days in jail. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea regarding sentencing but does not admit guilt for other purposes. For example, if you were sued later in civil court, a no contest plea would not be considered an admission of guilt. However, both a guilty plea and a no contest plea may appear on your record as a conviction. If you believe your actions were accidental and lacked criminal intent, you might consider pleading not guilty.

Regarding your missed court date, turning yourself in may help mitigate any complications. The judge may ask about your plea and could inquire about the incident, but it's difficult to predict exactly what will happen. It's important to appear on time and dress appropriately. Bringing proof of your change of address may also be beneficial.

For criminal mischief in Florida, if the damage is between two hundred and one thousand dollars, it is classified as a misdemeanor of the first degree (Fla. Stat. § 806.13). The penalties can include fines and possible jail time, especially since this is your first offense.