Drug Sale in Marion County, Florida
97 cases (2025) · Marion County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Marion County handled 97 drug sale cases with an 88.7 percent conviction rate. The county's 1 percent dismissal rate fell short of the statewide average of 1.8 percent, and withheld adjudication occurred in 6.2 percent of cases, below the statewide 8.3 percent rate. No defendants received diversion, compared to a statewide average of 0.9 percent.
Defendants received average sentences of approximately 4.4 years, with a median of 4 years. Prison confinement was imposed in 78.4 percent of cases. Notably, average fines reached $3,136, substantially higher than other drug sale counties. About 41 percent of defendants relied on public defense.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Drug Sale charge in Marion County makes it in front of a judge. Of 359 prosecutor decisions on Drug Sale charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 26.2% — below 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 88.7% of 97 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 97 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 184 | 5.3 years |
| County Jail | 22 | 8.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Drug Sale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 56 | 82.1% | 1.8% |
| White | 32 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63 | 95.2% | 0.0% | 6.6 years |
| 2024 | 70 | 97.1% | 0.0% | 3.6 years |
| 2025 | 97 | 88.7% | 1.0% | 4.4 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 189 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 29 |
| Felony | First Degree | 12 |
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 Drug Sale in Marion County?
The guilty rate is 88.7% based on 97 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Drug Sale in Marion County?
Adjudication is withheld in 6.2% 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 Drug Sale in Marion County?
The average sentence is 4.4 years, with an average fine of $3,136 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
41.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Drug Sale in Marion County, Florida (2025). Based on 97 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/drug-sale/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 · 97 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com