Criminal Mischief in Clay County, Florida
69 cases (2025) · Clay County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, criminal mischief defendants in Clay County faced the state's most conviction-focused prosecution strategy. Guilty verdicts reached 72.5%, with adjudication withheld in 21.7% of cases—both above statewide averages. Most notably, no cases were dismissed, compared to 2.4% statewide and 5.8% diverted locally. This pattern reflects a State Attorney office that pursues conviction aggressively and rarely seeks diversion.
Confinement was substantial. Median sentences reached 60 days; average sentences climbed to 170 days, indicating significant term variation. Over half of defendants (52.2%) received jail time, while 8.7% faced prison sentences. Average probation lasted 369 days, and average fines were $345.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Clay County makes it in front of a judge. Of 186 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 10.2% — below the 31.9% 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 — 72.5% of 69 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 69 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 | 118 | 2.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 13 | 2.1 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Clay County.
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 | 49 | 77.6% | 0.0% |
| Black | 18 | 66.7% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91 | 59.3% | 1.1% | 3.2 months |
| 2024 | 82 | 67.1% | 1.2% | 6.3 months |
| 2025 | 69 | 72.5% | 0.0% | 5.6 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 105 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 95 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 42 |
Related Charges in Clay County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,116 | 59.9% | 0.9% |
| Drug Possession | 560 | 70.2% | 1.1% |
| Larceny / Theft | 411 | 69.8% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 363 | 65.8% | 1.1% |
| Other | 424 | 47.6% | 32.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 194 | 73.2% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 133 | 99.2% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 129 | 81.4% | 2.3% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Clay County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Criminal Mischief cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Clay County?
The guilty rate is 72.5% based on 69 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Clay County?
Adjudication is withheld in 21.7% 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 Criminal Mischief in Clay County?
The average sentence is 5.6 months, with an average fine of $345 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Clay County, Florida (2025). Based on 69 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/clay
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Clay 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 · 69 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com