Criminal Mischief in Marion County, Florida
248 cases (2025) · Marion County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Marion County prosecuted criminal mischief through aggressive conviction and confinement strategies. Guilty verdicts reached 70.2%, with no cases dismissed versus 2.4% statewide. Adjudication was withheld in 17.3%—near the statewide average—while 8.5% were diverted, moderately above the statewide rate of 6.8%. The pattern reflects a State Attorney focused on conviction with limited leniency through dismissal or deferred prosecution.
Confinement was the hallmark outcome. Nearly 64% of defendants faced jail time—the highest rate observed—while 8.9% received prison sentences. Median jail terms reached 73.5 days; average sentences extended to 228.5 days. Probation averaged 545 days, and fines averaged $170. Most defendants (27.8%) relied on public defenders, with minimal private counsel representation (4.8%).
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Criminal Mischief charge in Marion County makes it in front of a judge. Of 721 prosecutor decisions on Criminal Mischief charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 22.3% — 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 — 70.2% of 248 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 248 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 | 533 | 4.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 75 | 3.4 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Criminal Mischief sentencing in Marion 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 | 156 | 69.9% | 0.0% |
| Black | 61 | 77.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 253 | 84.2% | 0.0% | 8.3 months |
| 2024 | 265 | 77.7% | 0.0% | 10.2 months |
| 2025 | 248 | 70.2% | 0.0% | 7.6 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 | 334 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 223 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 207 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Marion County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 3,396 | 66.3% | 15.3% |
| Drug Possession | 2,736 | 74.3% | 2.6% |
| Traffic Offense | 2,081 | 61.0% | 0.3% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,376 | 79.1% | 0.4% |
| Battery | 806 | 66.4% | 0.9% |
| Resisting Officer | 735 | 83.0% | 0.8% |
| Trespassing | 555 | 82.7% | 0.2% |
| DUI | 431 | 99.3% | 0.2% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Criminal Mischief in Marion County?
The guilty rate is 70.2% based on 248 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Criminal Mischief in Marion County?
Adjudication is withheld in 17.3% 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 Marion County?
The average sentence is 7.6 months, with an average fine of $170 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
27.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Criminal Mischief in Marion County, Florida (2025). Based on 248 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/criminal-mischief/marion
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Marion 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 · 248 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com