Perjury in Manatee County, Florida
36 cases (2025) · Manatee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
Manatee County's perjury cases in 2025 show no dismissals despite a small 36-case sample, falling short of the statewide 1.8% dismissal rate. However, diversion reaches 11.1%—nearly double the statewide 5.9% rate—providing an alternative to conviction. Guilty findings account for 69.4% with withheld at 19.4%, giving 88.8% of cases some guilt determination. This suggests prosecution pursues perjury aggressively while offering diversion as a path around formal conviction.
Sentencing is severe: the average of 1359.9 days is among the highest examined, with a median of 607.5 days indicating substantial sentences for most convicted defendants. Prison and jail are equally applied (22.2% each). The high average relative to median suggests some received multi-year terms. With only 2.8% private and 44.4% public attorneys, most lacked negotiation resources. The combination of zero dismissals, substantial sentences, and diversion as the sole alternative characterizes Manatee's serious approach to perjury convictions.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Perjury charge in Manatee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 66 prosecutor decisions on Perjury charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 4.5% — below the 43.8% 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 — 69.4% of 36 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 36 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 | 21 | 5.7 months |
| State Prison Facility | 19 | 4.9 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Perjury sentencing in Manatee County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
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 | 17 | 64.7% | 0.0% |
| Black | 17 | 70.6% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 23 | 73.9% | 4.3% | 2.0 years |
| 2024 | 25 | 68.0% | 8.0% | 1 year, 7 months |
| 2025 | 36 | 69.4% | 0.0% | 3.7 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 58 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 20 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 6 |
Related Charges in Manatee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 5,110 | 43.6% | 2.7% |
| Drug Possession | 1,870 | 61.7% | 0.9% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,034 | 59.6% | 3.1% |
| Battery | 707 | 56.4% | 2.8% |
| Other | 658 | 49.8% | 3.0% |
| Resisting Officer | 575 | 70.8% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 384 | 69.3% | 7.8% |
| Fraud | 404 | 67.3% | 0.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Perjury in Manatee County?
The guilty rate is 69.4% based on 36 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Perjury in Manatee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 19.4% 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 Perjury in Manatee County?
The average sentence is 3.7 years, with an average fine of $25,178 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
44.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 2.8% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Perjury in Manatee County, Florida (2025). Based on 36 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/perjury/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 · 36 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com