Rule 126. Pleas

A defendant may plead guilty, not guilty or nolo contendere to any complaint or information. If a defendant refuses to plead or if the judge refuses to accept a plea of guilty, the judge shall enter a plea of not guilty. In no case shall the court accept a plea of guilty without first determining if the defendant understands the nature of the charge against him, and that the plea is voluntarily made. The defendant shall be entitled to change a plea of not guilty to guilty at any time before the findings. He shall be permitted to change a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to one of not guilty only by permission of the court. Where a plea of guilty is entered, the court may hear the witnesses in support of the complaint prior to judgment and sentence, and after such hearing, may, in its discretion, refuse to accept the plea.--Amended Oct. 14, 1994, eff. Nov. 16, 1994.

Cited

Cited in Davis v. Gov't of V.I., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18023, -- V.I. --, -- F. Supp. 2d -- (D.C.V.I. Sept. 16, 2002).