Forgery in Sumter County, Florida
35 cases (2025) · Sumter County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, forgery cases in Sumter County resulted in conviction in 85.7%, with just 8.6% diverted and 5.7% receiving withheld adjudication. No cases were dismissed. Unlike counties relying heavily on withheld adjudication, Sumter pursued formal convictions and incarceration-oriented sentences for this charge.
Sentences were severe. Defendants averaged 743 days with a median of 731 days, and 60% received prison sentences with an additional 20% serving jail time. Probation averaged 609 days, and fines were notably high at $1,700—the highest among forgery counties. This reflects strict prosecution and sentencing policies.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Forgery charge in Sumter County makes it in front of a judge. Of 91 prosecutor decisions on Forgery charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 18.7% — below 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 85.7% of 35 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 35 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 | 36 | 8.1 months |
| State Prison Facility | 28 | 2.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Forgery sentencing in Sumter 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 | 42 | 88.1% | 0.0% |
| Black | 22 | 90.9% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 95.0% | 0.0% | 10.0 months |
| 2024 | 32 | 78.1% | 0.0% | 10.0 months |
| 2025 | 35 | 85.7% | 0.0% | 2.0 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 80 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 5 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 2 |
Related Charges in Sumter County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,098 | 62.6% | 0.3% |
| Traffic Offense | 853 | 76.4% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 341 | 66.9% | 1.5% |
| Other | 263 | 84.4% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 299 | 75.6% | 0.3% |
| Resisting Officer | 143 | 81.8% | 0.0% |
| DUI | 154 | 99.4% | 0.0% |
| Fraud | 122 | 74.6% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Forgery in Sumter County?
The guilty rate is 85.7% based on 35 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Forgery in Sumter County?
Adjudication is withheld in 5.7% 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 Forgery in Sumter County?
The average sentence is 2.0 years, with an average fine of $1,700 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
20.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Forgery in Sumter County, Florida (2025). Based on 35 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/forgery/sumter
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sumter 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 · 35 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com