True enough...that was sloppy writing on my part. Even with as little knowledge of law as I have, I DO know that guilty people try to get away with "not guilty" pleas, so the plea itself does not make one guilty or not guilty. I guess I was just amazed that if the judge accepts the not guilty plea and the charges are dropped and his record is cleared (eventually), I was amazed that he would have to pay anything.
My guess is court costs - which would be normal.