Larceny / Theft in Manatee County, Florida
1,030 cases (2025) · Manatee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, larceny cases in Manatee County resulted in guilty findings in 59.6% of cases, with another 16.9% resulting in adjudication withheld—a Florida-specific outcome that protects the defendant's record from showing a formal conviction. Dismissals occurred in 3.1% of cases, above the statewide average of 1.7%, but the most notable finding is the diversion rate of 19.1%, more than double the statewide average of 8.7%. This suggests Manatee County offers robust pre-trial diversion programs that allow defendants to avoid conviction by completing program requirements.
When cases proceeded to sentencing, the median sentence length was one year, with an average of about two years of probation. Incarceration was relatively modest, with 9.9% receiving prison time and 10.8% receiving jail time. Over half of defendants (56.4%) were represented by public defenders, with only 9.4% retaining private attorneys. The combination of high diversion availability and moderate sentencing suggests a rehabilitation-focused approach in Manatee County theft cases.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Larceny / Theft charge in Manatee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,823 prosecutor decisions on Larceny / Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 3.0% — below 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 — 59.9% of 1,030 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 1,030 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| County Jail | 297 | 5.8 months |
| State Prison Facility | 207 | 3.7 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Larceny / Theft sentencing in Manatee County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Larceny / Theft in Manatee County?
The guilty rate is 59.9% based on 1,030 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Larceny / Theft in Manatee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 16.8% 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 Manatee County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 1 year, 12 months, with an average fine of $187 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
56.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 9.2% retain private counsel (2025).
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 | 733 | 57.3% | 3.3% |
| Black | 267 | 69.7% | 3.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 822 | 61.3% | 4.3% | 1 year, 7 months |
| 2024 | 874 | 56.6% | 3.4% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2025 | 1,030 | 59.9% | 3.1% | 1 year, 12 months |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 972 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 861 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 852 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 32 |
| Felony | First Degree | 9 |
Related Charges in Manatee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 5,099 | 43.9% | 2.7% |
| Drug Possession | 1,863 | 62.0% | 0.9% |
| Battery | 706 | 56.7% | 2.8% |
| Other | 653 | 50.2% | 3.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 573 | 71.0% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 385 | 69.1% | 7.8% |
| Fraud | 402 | 67.9% | 0.7% |
| Sex Offense | 243 | 81.5% | 13.2% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Manatee County, Florida (2025). Based on 1,030 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/larceny-theft/manatee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Manatee 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 · 1,030 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com