When a defendant files a cash bond with the court and also gives a conditional plea of nolo contendere the court may enter a finding of guilty and forfeit the bond for the fine and court costs if the defendant fails to appear.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if the defendant pleads guilty
• D. For any reason

Answer: (A)

When a defendant posts a cash bond and also enters a conditional plea of nolo contendere, the court has the option to enter a finding of guilt and use the bond to satisfy the fine and court costs if the defendant fails to appear as required. The conditional plea creates a condition tied to appearance and payment; if that condition is breached, the plea can be voided and the court may adjudicate guilt while forfeiting the bond to cover those financial obligations. This does not depend on pleading guilty in the unconditional sense, and it’s not for any arbitrary reason—the key trigger is failure to appear under the agreed conditions.