Drug Sale in Escambia County, Florida
49 cases (2023-2025) · Escambia County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
From 2023 to 2025, drug sale defendants in Escambia County faced dramatically different outcomes than statewide norms. The guilty rate was 61.2%, with dismissals in 30.6% of cases—17 times the statewide rate of 1.8%—and acquittals in 4.1%. This suggests the local prosecution faces significant evidentiary challenges or the elected State Attorney deprioritizes drug sales relative to other offenses. Withheld adjudication occurred in just 2.0% of cases compared to 8.2% statewide.
Those convicted faced severe penalties. Defendants with custodial sentences averaged 1,696 days in prison, with a median of 731 days, and received average probation of 1,324 days. Prison sentences were common among confined defendants at 22.4%, compared to jail at 12.2%. The data reflects sentencing that distinguishes drug sales from simpler possession.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 49 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Sale charge in Escambia County makes it in front of a judge. Of 156 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 41.0% — above the 35.8% 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 61.2% of 49 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 49 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 11 | 6.9 years |
| County Jail | 6 | 6.9 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale sentencing in Escambia County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Drug Sale in Escambia County?
The guilty rate is 61.2% based on 49 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Escambia County?
Adjudication is withheld in 2.0% of cases (2023-2025). 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 Drug Sale in Escambia County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.6 years, with an average fine of $532 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
4.1% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.1% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 32 | 53.1% | 34.4% |
| White | 15 | 73.3% | 26.7% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 50.0% | 33.3% | 2.8 months |
| 2024 | 15 | 80.0% | 20.0% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 22 | 54.5% | 36.4% | 7.9 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| NULL | NULL | 17 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 13 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 11 |
| Felony | First Degree | 5 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 3 |
Related Charges in Escambia County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,108 | 59.3% | 14.1% |
| Drug Possession | 2,249 | 75.7% | 6.8% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,730 | 69.2% | 10.4% |
| Other | 1,544 | 39.2% | 4.9% |
| Battery | 847 | 61.4% | 14.6% |
| Trespassing | 676 | 83.7% | 7.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 610 | 77.2% | 8.4% |
| Fraud | 335 | 72.2% | 9.6% |
Was Your Case Dismissed?
30.6% of Drug Sale cases in Escambia County are dismissed. If your case was dismissed, you may be eligible to have it expunged from your record.
Check Expungement EligibilityCite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Escambia County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 49 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/escambia
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Escambia 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 · 49 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com