QUESTION
College Application Deferred Judgement Question
Asked on Apr 16th, 2013 on Criminal Law - Iowa
More details to this question:
Approximately 4 years ago, I was arrested and charged with 4 counts of misdemeanor assault charges for verbal threats of violence. I pled guilty to 1 count, 3 were dismissed, and I was given a Deferred Judgement. I completed my probation and the last count was removed from my record. It was my understanding, that at the end of the deferred judgement my plea of guilt, was withdrawn and the case dismissed. But, I'm at a cross roads on my college application because it asks this question: "Within the past 10 years, have you pled guilty (or no contest) to or otherwise been convicted of a misdemeanor crime involving violence or the threat of violence in any court?*" -- So i pled guilty, but it was withdrawn and I don't fulfill the "otherwise been convicted" because I never received a judgement. So is it legal to answer no?
1 ANSWER
General Practice Attorney serving Ontonagon, MI
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Robert Peterson, Attorney at Law
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A deferred judgment is not a conviction. However, to obtain a deferred judgment you must plead guilty and after successful completion of your probation, your charge is dismissed.
I would contact your attorney who negotiated the deferred judgment to review your application to provide an accurate answer, because it would indicate based on your question, that you must indicate a yes answer. However, there is usually an explanation or clarification section that you could indicate that the charge was dismissed. However, without reviewing the document, I would be unable to give you a precise answer. So contact your attorney to review the document and clarify how you should respond.
Answered on May 02nd, 2013 at 12:46 PM