Burglary in Desoto County, Florida
34 cases (2025) · Desoto County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, 34 burglary cases in Desoto County resulted in an 82.4% guilty verdict rate with 14.7% adjudication withheld and 2.9% dismissal. The dismissal rate ran slightly higher than the statewide average of 1.5%, suggesting some prosecutorial flexibility. Withheld adjudications—where judges find guilt but do not enter formal conviction, protecting defendants' records—aligned closely with statewide norms at 14.7% versus 13.1%. No cases were diverted compared to the statewide 2.3%, indicating the State Attorney prioritizes prosecution over alternative pathways.
Among those convicted or with withheld adjudication, 52.9% received prison sentences averaging 1,564 days (median 1,826 days), while 5.9% were confined to jail. Probation averaged 1,202 days. Over half of defendants were represented by public defenders, with only 2.9% retaining private counsel, reflecting the economics of indigent representation in the county.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Burglary charge in Desoto County makes it in front of a judge. Of 171 prosecutor decisions on Burglary charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 10.5% — below the 31.2% statewide rate. These decisions happen early in a case, before trial.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney case data (2023-2025). Rates are per charge, not per defendant — a dropped charge often reflects a plea agreement on another charge in the same case, not the case going away. Percentages are of charges receiving a prosecution decision; transfers between courts are excluded. Court outcome data on this page is a separate dataset covering cases that reached disposition. Statewide charging patterns: The Florida Prosecution Report.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 82.4% of 34 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 34 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 83 | 4.1 years |
| County Jail | 4 | 9.1 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Burglary sentencing in Desoto County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88 | 93.2% | 0.0% |
| Black | 34 | 88.2% | 2.9% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 67 | 95.5% | 0.0% | 3.1 years |
| 2024 | 53 | 96.2% | 0.0% | 4.6 years |
| 2025 | 34 | 82.4% | 2.9% | 4.3 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 104 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 35 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 12 |
| Felony | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Desoto County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 540 | 42.4% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 444 | 75.2% | 0.0% |
| Other | 122 | 80.3% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 74 | 86.5% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 92 | 75.0% | 1.1% |
| Sex Offense | 87 | 98.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 70 | 84.3% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 36 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Burglary in Desoto County?
The guilty rate is 82.4% based on 34 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Burglary in Desoto County?
Adjudication is withheld in 14.7% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Burglary in Desoto County?
The average sentence is 4.3 years, with an average fine of $177 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
52.9% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Burglary in Desoto County, Florida (2025). Based on 34 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/burglary/desoto
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Desoto County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 34 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com