Larceny / Theft in Lee County, Florida
913 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County processed 913 larceny or theft cases—by far the largest docket among comparison counties—with outcomes aligned to statewide prosecutorial norms. The guilty rate of 82.4 percent reflected consistent conviction pressure, while the dismissal rate of 0.5 percent fell below the 1.7 percent statewide average. The withheld adjudication rate of 12.7 percent trailed the state average of 15.6 percent, while diversion at 2.7 percent fell sharply below the 8.7 percent statewide rate. Lee showed minimal case rejection at any stage.
Sentences were moderate: 509 days average with a remarkably low median of 124 days, suggesting many cases resolved with time served or probation-only. Prison affected 16.2 percent and jail 44.6 percent. Probation averaged 634 days. Notably, attorney representation rates were among the lowest across comparison counties (4.8 percent private, 17.7 percent public defender), suggesting high self-representation or minimal counsel entries.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 5,433 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 31.5% — 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 — 82.4% of 913 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 913 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 | 937 | 4.2 months |
| State Prison Facility | 277 | 3.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Lee 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 | 641 | 83.2% | 0.3% |
| Black | 254 | 81.5% | 1.2% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 678 | 84.5% | 0.7% | 10.7 months |
| 2024 | 827 | 85.5% | 0.0% | 1 year |
| 2025 | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% | 1 year, 5 months |
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 | 1,015 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 735 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 614 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 40 |
| Felony | First Degree | 13 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 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% |
| 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% |
| Burglary | 267 | 74.5% | 1.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 82.4% based on 913 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 12.7% 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 Larceny / Theft in Lee County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 5 months (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
17.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 913 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/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 · 913 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com