Homicide in Sumter County, Florida
27 cases (2023-2025) · Sumter County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Sumter County, homicide cases result in conviction at an extraordinarily high rate. Of 27 cases, 96.3 percent ended in guilty verdicts, with just one acquittal and zero dismissals. This contrasts sharply with statewide patterns, where dismissals occur in 1.9 percent of homicide cases. Sumter County's State Attorney pursues these cases with near-total conviction success, rejecting the modest use of withheld adjudication seen statewide at 1.4 percent. Pre-trial diversion, available in rare statewide homicide instances, never appeared in Sumter County's record.
Defendants convicted in Sumter County face substantial confinement. Nearly 89 percent received prison sentences, with median sentences reaching roughly 15 years. Average sentences extended to about 18 years, supplemented by average probation terms near five and a half years. Court-appointed counsel represented two-thirds of defendants, with public defenders assigned in 44 percent of cases, suggesting limited private legal representation among those charged.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 27 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Outcome Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 96.3% of 27 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 27 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 | 26 | 8.2 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Homicide sentencing in Sumter County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Homicide in Sumter County?
The guilty rate is 96.3% based on 27 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Homicide in Sumter County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.0% 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 Homicide in Sumter County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 17.8 years, with an average fine of $3,306 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
44.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 22.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 15 | 93.3% | 0.0% |
| Black | 11 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13 | 92.3% | 0.0% | 17.5 years |
| 2024 | 5 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 25.5 years |
| 2025 | 9 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 12.8 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | First Degree | 11 |
| Felony | Capital | 7 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 5 |
| Felony | Life | 4 |
Related Charges in Sumter County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,096 | 62.7% | 0.3% |
| Traffic Offense | 852 | 76.5% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 342 | 67.3% | 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% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Homicide in Sumter County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 27 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/homicide/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 · 27 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com