Resisting Officer in Pasco County, Florida

In Pasco County, resisting officer charges result in conviction at notably high rates. Among 2,194 cases, 76.4 percent ended in guilty verdicts, with another 14.5 percent resulting in adjudication withheld—a combined rate of 90.9 percent where defendants faced guilt findings. This aligns with the statewide withheld rate but leaves only 7.2 percent of cases dismissed, diverted, or acquitted. Pasco's dismissal rate of 1.1 percent falls below the statewide average of 1.9 percent, suggesting this county's prosecutors handle resisting officer charges more aggressively than the typical Florida jurisdiction. Diversion opportunities at 5.9 percent slightly exceed the statewide average of 4.8 percent, offering some defendants a path to avoid conviction through program completion.

Most convicted defendants received probation rather than incarceration, though sentences varied widely—a median of 183 days of confinement versus an average of 500 days, indicating some severe outliers. Prison time occurred in 8.2 percent of cases while 19.5 percent involved jail confinement. Public defenders represented 70 percent of defendants, reflecting the charge's concentration among lower-income individuals. Fines averaged $254.87, adding financial consequence to judicial outcomes.