Perjury in Desoto County, Florida
45 cases (2023-2025) · Desoto County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Desoto County prosecutes perjury with exceptional severity. The guilty rate of 86.7% stands as one of the highest in the state for this charge, with another 13.3% receiving withheld adjudication. Critically, zero cases were dismissed, dropped, or acquitted among 45 prosecutions, indicating the State Attorney pursues only cases deemed highly prosecutable. This differs markedly from the statewide perjury dismissal rate of 1.7%, suggesting Desoto screens cases with extreme rigor before filing charges.
Convicted defendants face the harshest penalties observed across these counties. The median sentence of 1,653 days and average of 1,455 days translate to years of confinement. Prison time applies to 55.6% of defendants—the highest incarceration rate for perjury statewide in this dataset. Most defendants lack private representation, indicating limited financial resources to mount protracted defenses against these prosecutions.
Figures cover 45 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 — 86.7% of 45 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 45 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 25 | 4.0 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Perjury sentencing in Desoto 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 | 25 | 88.0% | 0.0% |
| Black | 13 | 92.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 82.4% | 0.0% | 3.5 years |
| 2024 | 18 | 88.9% | 0.0% | 4.0 years |
| 2025 | 10 | 90.0% | 0.0% | 4.6 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 38 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 6 |
| Felony | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Desoto County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 540 | 42.4% | 3.3% |
| Drug Possession | 444 | 75.2% | 0.0% |
| Other | 122 | 80.3% | 0.0% |
| Larceny / Theft | 74 | 86.5% | 0.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 92 | 75.0% | 1.1% |
| Sex Offense | 87 | 98.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 70 | 84.3% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 36 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Perjury in Desoto County?
The guilty rate is 86.7% based on 45 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Perjury in Desoto County?
Adjudication is withheld in 13.3% 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 Perjury in Desoto County?
The average sentence is 4.0 years, with an average fine of $141 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
13.3% of defendants use a public defender, while 4.4% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Perjury in Desoto County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 45 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/perjury/desoto
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Desoto 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 · 45 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com