Forgery in Lee County, Florida
68 cases (2023-2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Forgery defendants in Lee County face notably different outcomes than the statewide pattern. While the state dismisses about 2 percent of forgery cases, Lee County has dismissed none of the 57 cases on record. The county's 61.4 percent guilty rate exceeds the typical resolution pattern, but the 35.1 percent withheld adjudication rate—substantially higher than the 22.2 percent statewide average—suggests judges here frequently find guilt while preserving defendants' records. Diversion opportunities are scarce in Lee County at 3.5 percent compared to 9.1 percent statewide, indicating fewer alternatives to conviction are available locally.
Sentences in Lee County are substantial: the average runs 436 days with probation averaging 641 additional days. About half of sentenced defendants serve jail time, while one in ten receives prison. The confinement rates and sentence length reflect serious treatment of forgery despite withheld adjudications. Notably, 78 percent of defendants were represented by private counsel or public defenders, showing significant reliance on appointed legal representation in this county.
Figures cover 68 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Forgery charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 192 prosecutor decisions on Forgery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 43.8% — above the 25.0% 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 — 61.8% of 68 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 68 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 |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 36 | 5.3 months |
| State Prison Facility | 7 | 4.6 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Forgery sentencing in Lee County.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 54 | 59.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 12 | 75.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14 | 28.6% | 0.0% | 1 year |
| 2024 | 33 | 81.8% | 0.0% | 10.0 months |
| 2025 | 21 | 52.4% | 0.0% | 1 year, 7 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 56 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 9 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 2 |
| Felony | First Degree | 1 |
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 Forgery in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 61.8% based on 68 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Forgery in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 35.3% 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 Forgery in Lee County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 1 months (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
7.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 11.8% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Forgery in Lee County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 68 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/forgery/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 · 68 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com