The crossword solution for the term GUILTY, MAYBE is PLEA. A PLEA is a formal statement made by a defendant in a criminal court, either of guilty or not guilty. It is the defendant's response to the charges brought against them. A PLEA of guilty may be accompanied by an agreement to accept a lesser sentence, while a PLEA of maybe is a PLEA of no contest, which is essentially a refusal to admit guilt but an acceptance of the consequences of the crime.