Criminal Mischief in Lee County, Florida
233 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County resolved Criminal Mischief with outcomes closely aligned to statewide patterns across 233 cases. Guilty verdicts reached 74.2%, with withheld adjudication at 16.3%, matching the statewide 17.1%. Dismissals and acquittals were rare at 2.1% each. Diversion programs resolved only 3.0% of cases versus statewide 6.8%, limiting alternatives for defendants.
Sentences emphasized jail confinement. Guilty defendants averaged 297.5 days imprisonment with a median of 120 days and 577.9 days probation. Notably, 54.9% faced jail time—the highest rate among measured counties—while 9.4% received state prison. Most defendants relied on public defenders.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,208 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 — 74.2% of 233 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 233 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 | 305 | 4.4 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.
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 | 145 | 77.9% | 1.4% |
| Black | 82 | 69.5% | 3.7% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 192 | 81.2% | 2.1% | 7.1 months |
| 2024 | 214 | 74.8% | 0.0% | 8.9 months |
| 2025 | 233 | 74.2% | 2.1% | 9.9 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 | 263 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 208 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 168 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,039 | 67.2% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,117 | 77.4% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,301 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 686 | 84.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 71.7% | 2.5% |
| Trespassing | 456 | 83.3% | 5.9% |
| Other | 458 | 72.5% | 1.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 74.2% based on 233 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 16.3% 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?
The average sentence is 9.9 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
22.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 9.4% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 233 public court records; last updated July 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 · 233 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com