Stalking in Lee County, Florida

In Lee County, stalking cases result in conviction at notably high rates. The 66.7 percent guilty verdict rate far exceeds the pattern needed to sustain charges, while the 20.8 percent adjudication withheld rate aligns closely with the statewide average of 20.9 percent. What distinguishes Lee County is the complete absence of dismissals and diversions—zero cases were dismissed and zero were diverted to pre-trial programs, compared to statewide dismissal and diversion rates of 3.0 and 7.1 percent respectively. This suggests the State Attorney's office in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit prioritizes prosecuting stalking charges to resolution rather than negotiating early exits or reductions.

Sentences in Lee County reflect this conviction-focused approach. The median sentence of 180 days masks wide variation, with an average of 644 days driven by defendants receiving prison terms at a higher rate than typical confinement outcomes. Approximately 18.8 percent received prison sentences and 16.7 percent jail time, totaling over a third exposed to incarceration. Probation was common, averaging 980 days. Public defenders represented just 14.6 percent of defendants, while private attorneys handled 12.5 percent—suggesting many defendants represented themselves or data gaps exist in counsel recording.