Also known as: nocents · nocently · guilty · harmful
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An archaic adjective describing a person or act that is guilty or harmful. It functions as the direct antonym of innocent.
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Nathaniel Newman and Naomi Norton agree to falsify shipping records to evade customs duties. Each intends the same criminal objective and shares a culpable understanding of the plan. A court finds both nocent because they formed the required common purpose under the common law rule.
Naveen Nanda enters a guilty plea to fraud charges but later withdraws it before sentencing. Prosecutors attempt to introduce the plea at trial. The court excludes the evidence under the rule even though Nanda remains nocent of the underlying fraud.
Neville Norton is charged with arson after his arm involuntarily convulses during a seizure and knocks over a lantern. The court acquits him because no voluntary act occurred. Norton is therefore not nocent under the statutory definition of criminal liability.
Norman Nash consults attorney Nicole Navarro about a contract dispute. Navarro later represents the opposing party in the same matter after receiving harmful information from Nash. The court disqualifies Navarro because the information could prejudice Nash who remains nocent of any waiver.
Nordic Ventures employee Nicole Navarro swings a tool intending to strike a coworker but misses and hits a third party instead. The contact causes injury. The court holds Navarro nocent of battery because the intent to cause harmful contact transfers to the actual victim.
Neptune Energy refuses to enter any plea at arraignment on embezzlement charges. The court enters a not guilty plea on the corporation's behalf. Neptune Energy is treated as nocent only after the prosecution meets its burden at trial.
Nocent is an archaic term meaning guilty or harmful. It serves as the direct opposite of innocent.
Supporting sources
…alive." It made a willful act performed with the necessary intent a felony. It contained a proviso that one was not to be found guilty of the offense "unless it is proved that the act which caused the death of the child was not done in good faith for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother." A seemingly…