Contempt of Court in Lake County, Florida
35 cases (2025) · Lake County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lake County took a stricter contempt stance: zero dismissals and 82.9% guilty rate across 35 cases. Withheld adjudication was 8.6%, below statewide 11.1%. Diversion minimal at 2.9%. This resembled Citrus County's aggressive approach.
Jail dominated at 20.0%, imprisonment rare at 2.9%. Sentences averaged 236 days, aligned closely with median 227 days. Probation averaged 265 days. Notably, 94.3% of defendants had counsel—51.4% public defender, 42.9% private.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Contempt of Court charge in Lake County makes it in front of a judge. Of 122 prosecutor decisions on Contempt of Court charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 9.8% — below the 38.4% 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 — 82.9% of 35 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 35 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 23 | 6.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 3 | 1 year, 6 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Contempt of Court sentencing in Lake County.
Counsel Analysis (2025)
Demographics (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 | 30 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65 | 86.2% | 4.6% | 5.1 months |
| 2024 | 50 | 90.0% | 8.0% | 9.2 months |
| 2025 | 35 | 82.9% | 0.0% | 7.8 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 121 |
| Misdemeanor | NULL | 23 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 4 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Lake County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 2,230 | 74.0% | 0.5% |
| Drug Possession | 1,391 | 79.4% | 0.4% |
| Other | 1,817 | 14.0% | 0.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,004 | 65.9% | 0.9% |
| Battery | 654 | 56.6% | 1.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 565 | 78.8% | 1.1% |
| DUI | 417 | 99.0% | 1.0% |
| Trespassing | 426 | 88.3% | 1.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Contempt of Court in Lake County?
The guilty rate is 82.9% based on 35 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Contempt of Court in Lake County?
Adjudication is withheld in 8.6% 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 Contempt of Court in Lake County?
The average sentence is 7.8 months, with an average fine of $250 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
51.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 42.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court in Lake County, Florida (2025). Based on 35 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/lake
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lake 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 · 35 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com