Stolen Property in Suwannee County, Florida

In Suwannee County, stolen property cases move decisively toward conviction. The 71.4% guilty rate is high, and when combined with the 28.6% adjudication withheld rate, it means 100% of cases result in a finding of guilt—either formally convicted or with adjudication withheld. This contrasts sharply with statewide patterns: Florida averages a 2.2% dismissal rate for stolen property charges, but Suwannee County has zero dismissals. The withheld adjudication rate here more than doubles the state average of 13.6%, suggesting that judges in this county favor preserving defendants' records through the withheld mechanism rather than formal convictions, though the practical outcome is identical—guilt is found. No cases used diversion programs, unlike the statewide average of 3.8%.

Sentencing outcomes reflect serious consequences. Defendants who receive confinement face an average of about three years in prison and another 4.5 years on probation. Half of all defendants in these cases were sentenced to prison, with an average fine of $500. Only 7.1% received jail time, indicating that when confinement is imposed, it tends to be substantial. The public defender represented 42.9% of defendants, suggesting a mix of court-appointed and privately retained counsel.