Sex Offense in Union County, Florida

In Union County, sex offense cases result in conviction at notably high rates. Of the 12 cases prosecuted, 66.7 percent ended in guilty verdicts, with an additional 16.7 percent resulting in adjudication withheld—a Florida-specific outcome where the judge finds guilt but avoids formal conviction. Together, these outcomes account for 83.4 percent of cases, compared to a statewide withheld rate of just 4.4 percent. Union County had zero dismissals and zero acquittals, a stark contrast to the statewide dismissal rate of 2.6 percent. This pattern suggests the local State Attorney's office pursues sex offense charges with particular severity and selectivity, advancing only cases deemed strong enough to secure conviction or guilt findings.

Sentencing reflects this prosecutorial approach. Defendants convicted faced an average of 6,209 days in prison—approximately 17 years—with a median of 5,479 days. Two-thirds of defendants were incarcerated, while the remaining third received probation averaging 1,583 days. Half of defendants were represented by public defenders, indicating limited financial resources among those charged.