Sex Offense in Lee County, Florida
25 cases (2023-2025) · Lee County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Lee County, sex offense charges proceed to conviction at the highest possible rate. All 25 cases resulted in guilty verdicts—compared to statewide rates where dismissals occur in 2.6% of cases and adjudication withheld in 4.3%, Lee County shows no dismissals and no withheld adjudications. This reflects how the State Attorney for this circuit prioritizes prosecution of sex offenses without negotiated resolution.
Defendants convicted of sex offenses in Lee County face substantial confinement. Seventy-two percent serve prison time, with average sentences of over five years and median sentences exceeding five years. The eight percent incarcerated in county jail typically receive shorter terms. Probation terms average nearly seven years, extending supervision well beyond incarceration.
Figures cover 25 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Sex Offense charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,183 prosecutor decisions on Sex Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 38.9% — above 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 (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 100.0% of 25 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 25 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 | 18 | 6.2 years |
| County Jail | 2 | 2.0 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Sex Offense sentencing in Lee County.
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 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 4.3 years |
| 2025 | 7 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 8.5 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 16 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 8 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,039 | 67.2% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,117 | 77.4% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,301 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 913 | 82.4% | 0.5% |
| Resisting Officer | 686 | 84.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 71.7% | 2.5% |
| Trespassing | 456 | 83.3% | 5.9% |
| Other | 458 | 72.5% | 1.5% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Sex Offense in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 100.0% based on 25 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Sex Offense in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.0% 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 Sex Offense in Lee County?
The average sentence is 5.6 years (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Sex Offense in Lee County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 25 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/sex-offense/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 25 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com