Larceny / Theft in Charlotte County, Florida
386 cases (2025) · Charlotte County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Charlotte County prosecuted 386 larceny cases with notably harsh outcomes. The guilty verdict rate of 83.7% represented one of the highest documented for this charge, achieved partly through restrictive alternative pathways. Withheld adjudication dropped to 9.6%—below statewide 15.6%—and pre-trial diversion affected only 4.7% versus statewide 8.7%. Dismissals were minimal at 0.5%. Charlotte County's prosecutorial posture prioritizes conviction in theft cases, limiting defendant options for guilt avoidance.
Confinement outcomes reflected this aggressive stance. Average sentences reached 384 days with a median of 183 days. Notably, 46.1% of defendants received jail time, substantially higher than other counties, while only 12.4% served prison sentences. Probation averaged 905 days. The jail-heavy pattern suggests prosecution aimed at local custody rather than state prison, possibly concentrating defendants in county facilities for lower-level theft offenses. Private counsel represented 14.5% of cases.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Charlotte County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,789 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 44.5% — above the 23.7% 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 — 83.7% of 386 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 386 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 | 547 | 5.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 169 | 3.1 years |
| Confined to Other Diversionary Facility | 2 | 1.7 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Charlotte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 301 | 84.1% | 0.3% |
| Black | 78 | 87.2% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 367 | 84.5% | 0.5% | 1 year, 2 months |
| 2024 | 365 | 89.9% | 0.0% | 0 year, 12 months |
| 2025 | 386 | 83.7% | 0.5% | 1 year |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 492 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 367 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 232 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 23 |
| Felony | First Degree | 4 |
Related Charges in Charlotte County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,264 | 65.8% | 0.0% |
| Drug Possession | 1,190 | 91.9% | 0.3% |
| DUI | 310 | 98.4% | 0.3% |
| Battery | 352 | 71.6% | 2.8% |
| Other | 271 | 81.2% | 1.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 213 | 87.8% | 0.9% |
| Trespassing | 147 | 91.2% | 0.0% |
| Fraud | 157 | 77.7% | 0.6% |
Need a Defense Attorney in Charlotte County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Larceny / Theft cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Charlotte County?
The guilty rate is 83.7% based on 386 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Charlotte County?
Adjudication is withheld in 9.6% 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 Larceny / Theft in Charlotte County?
The average sentence is 1 year, with an average fine of $351 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 14.5% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Charlotte County, Florida (2025). Based on 386 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/charlotte
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Charlotte 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 · 386 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com