Criminal Mischief in Lee County, Florida
243 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, criminal mischief charges in Lee County resulted in guilty verdicts in 75.7% of the 243 cases, with 15.2% resulting in adjudication withheld. The dismissal rate (2.1%) is near the statewide average of 2.4%. Lee's outcomes lie between the harsh DeSoto model and the lenient Hendry approach. The county convicted or withheld in 90.9% of cases, leaving few acquittals. Lee County's relatively large caseload (243 cases) suggests consistent prosecution patterns across judicial officers.
Sentenced defendants face a median of 107 days and average probation of 568.5 days. Jail confinement is common at 56% of cases, while prison is rare (9.1%). Public defenders represent only 21% of defendants—notably low—suggesting economic diversity in the defendant population or that many retain counsel. Diversion programs are underutilized (2.5%) compared to statewide availability (6.6%), leaving few alternative routes to resolution.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,210 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 41.2% — above 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 — 75.7% of 243 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 243 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 323 | 4.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 46 | 3.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Lee County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 75.7% based on 243 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 15.2% 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 Lee County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 9.5 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
21.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 9.1% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 154 | 78.6% | 1.3% |
| Black | 83 | 72.3% | 3.6% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 207 | 81.2% | 2.9% | 6.8 months |
| 2024 | 220 | 74.5% | 0.0% | 8.7 months |
| 2025 | 243 | 75.7% | 2.1% | 9.5 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 276 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 209 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 185 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,155 | 67.9% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,127 | 78.6% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,320 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 999 | 83.0% | 0.7% |
| Resisting Officer | 700 | 85.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 74.2% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 481 | 85.0% | 5.8% |
| Other | 490 | 73.7% | 1.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 243 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 243 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com