Criminal Mischief in Highlands County, Florida
60 cases (2025) · Highlands County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Highlands County secured guilty verdicts in 80.0% of 60 Criminal Mischief cases—the highest rate among measured counties. Withheld adjudication remained minimal at 6.7%, and diversion programs played no role, differing sharply from the statewide 6.8% diversion rate. Dismissals reached 5.0%, above the statewide 2.4% but still modest relative to the county's aggressive conviction rate, suggesting prosecutorial focus on securing convictions rather than alternatives.
Sentences were moderate in duration but frequent in confinement. Defendants averaged 270.7 days imprisonment with a median of 90 days, plus 616.3 days probation and fines averaging $197.32. About 33.3% received jail time and 8.3% state prison.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Highlands County makes it in front of a judge. Of 181 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 21.0% — 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 — 80.0% of 60 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 60 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 | 66 | 4.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 12 | 3.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Highlands County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 38 | 81.6% | 5.3% |
| Black | 22 | 77.3% | 4.5% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57 | 89.5% | 1.8% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2024 | 57 | 93.0% | 1.8% | 9.2 months |
| 2025 | 60 | 80.0% | 5.0% | 9.0 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 72 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 68 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 34 |
Related Charges in Highlands County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 754 | 64.2% | 1.6% |
| Drug Possession | 571 | 89.1% | 0.7% |
| Other | 332 | 75.6% | 7.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 256 | 85.5% | 1.6% |
| Resisting Officer | 208 | 85.6% | 2.4% |
| Battery | 246 | 80.9% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 138 | 84.8% | 2.9% |
| Fraud | 97 | 73.2% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Highlands County?
The guilty rate is 80.0% based on 60 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Highlands County?
Adjudication is withheld in 6.7% 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 Highlands County?
The average sentence is 9.0 months, with an average fine of $197 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
23.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 3.3% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Highlands County, Florida (2025). Based on 60 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/highlands
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Highlands 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 · 60 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com