Art. 552.  Pleas at the arraignment

There are four kinds of pleas to the indictment at the arraignment:

(1)  Guilty;

(2)  Not guilty;

(3)  Not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity; or

(4)  Nolo contendere, which plea a court may in its discretion accept only if the offense charged is not a capital offense.  If a court accepts such a plea, it shall impose sentence or place the defendant on probation, or release him during his good behavior, in accordance with the laws applicable to the offense.  A sentence imposed upon a plea of nolo contendere is a conviction and may be considered as a prior conviction and provide a basis for prosecution or sentencing under laws pertaining to multiple offenses, and shall be a conviction for purposes of laws providing for the granting, suspension or revocation of licenses to operate motor vehicles.

Amended by Acts 1972, No. 453, §1; Acts 1977, No. 534, §1.