Under existing law, when a defendant in a criminal case enters a plea of nolo contendere, the plea is treated as a plea of guilty for purposes of the case only; however, the plea has no effect on future cases. This bill would provide that for purposes of the habitual offender law, a prior conviction includes both in-state and out-of-state convictions, and a plea of nolo contendere is treated as if the defendant entered a plea of guilty.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-5-9