Resisting Officer in Desoto County, Florida
92 cases (2025) · Desoto County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, DeSoto County prosecuted 92 resisting officer cases with a 75.0% conviction rate. Withheld adjudications were notably high at 22.8%—significantly above the statewide 14.7%—suggesting relatively lenient outcomes. However, dismissals were rare at 1.1%, well below the 2.1% statewide rate, and diversion programs were unavailable, compared to 5.0% statewide.
Defendants convicted in DeSoto County faced substantially longer sentences, with a median of 364 days and average of 486 days. Prison time was imposed in 8.7% of cases, with 22.8% receiving jail sentences.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Resisting Officer charge in Desoto County makes it in front of a judge. Of 266 prosecutor decisions on Resisting Officer charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 3.4% — below the 26.5% 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 — 75.0% of 92 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 92 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 | 56 | 8.0 months |
| State Prison Facility | 27 | 2.5 years |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Resisting Officer sentencing in Desoto 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 | 55 | 74.5% | 0.0% |
| Black | 20 | 75.0% | 5.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 87 | 82.8% | 1.1% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2024 | 114 | 77.2% | 2.6% | 1 year, 3 months |
| 2025 | 92 | 75.0% | 1.1% | 1 year, 4 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 230 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 50 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 10 |
| Felony | First Degree | 2 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 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% |
| Sex Offense | 87 | 98.9% | 0.0% |
| Battery | 70 | 84.3% | 0.0% |
| Trespassing | 36 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
| Burglary | 34 | 82.4% | 2.9% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Resisting Officer in Desoto County?
The guilty rate is 75.0% based on 92 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Resisting Officer in Desoto County?
Adjudication is withheld in 22.8% 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 Resisting Officer in Desoto County?
The average sentence is 1 year, 4 months, with an average fine of $134 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
20.7% of defendants use a public defender, while 8.7% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Resisting Officer in Desoto County, Florida (2025). Based on 92 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/resisting-officer/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 · 92 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com