Stolen Property in Sarasota County, Florida
134 cases (2023-2025) · Sarasota County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Sarasota County, stolen property defendants face an 81.3% conviction rate—substantially higher than typical outcomes. Though adjudication withheld reaches 14.9%, dismissals are rare at 0.7% versus 2.2% statewide. The local State Attorney prioritizes theft prosecution, resulting in convictions in the vast majority of cases rather than favorable case resolutions for defendants.
Sentences are severe: averaging over 1,000 days with a median of 731 days. Nearly 38% receive prison time; 22% receive jail sentences. Public defenders represent 98.5% of defendants, averaging 1,116 days of probation. The high conviction rate combined with lengthy prison and probation terms reflects Sarasota's harsh stance toward stolen property crimes.
Figures cover 134 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Stolen Property charge in Sarasota County makes it in front of a judge. Of 129 prosecutor decisions on Stolen Property charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 4.7% — below the 37.4% 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 — 81.3% of 134 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 134 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 | 51 | 4.0 years |
| County Jail | 29 | 6.7 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Stolen Property sentencing in Sarasota 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 | 108 | 78.7% | 0.9% |
| Black | 22 | 95.5% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78 | 87.2% | 0.0% | 2.7 years |
| 2024 | 31 | 58.1% | 0.0% | 4.4 years |
| 2025 | 25 | 92.0% | 4.0% | 1 year, 9 months |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 120 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 9 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 3 |
| Felony | First Degree | 1 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 1 |
Related Charges in Sarasota County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 3,328 | 50.1% | 2.8% |
| Drug Possession | 2,404 | 75.9% | 1.2% |
| Other | 1,063 | 77.6% | 2.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,028 | 64.1% | 2.5% |
| DUI | 711 | 96.6% | 0.7% |
| Battery | 685 | 57.7% | 0.9% |
| Sex Offense | 561 | 78.3% | 0.2% |
| Resisting Officer | 594 | 74.1% | 1.3% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Stolen Property in Sarasota County?
The guilty rate is 81.3% based on 134 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Stolen Property in Sarasota County?
Adjudication is withheld in 14.9% 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 Stolen Property in Sarasota County?
The average sentence is 2.8 years, with an average fine of $500 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
0.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 1.5% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Stolen Property in Sarasota County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 134 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/stolen-property/sarasota
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Sarasota 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 · 134 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com