Vehicle Theft in Santa Rosa County, Florida
39 cases (2025) · Santa Rosa County courts
Updated July 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Santa Rosa County convicted 92.3 percent of 39 vehicle theft defendants—the highest guilty rate statewide for this charge—while maintaining a modest 5.1 percent diversion rate. Withheld adjudication was the lowest at 2.6 percent, indicating prosecutors pursued formal convictions rather than record-preserving outcomes. No cases were dismissed.
Sentences averaged 765.8 days with a median of 491 days, and probation extended extraordinarily to an average of 3.4 years—the longest statewide for this charge. Fines averaged $12,836.62, vastly exceeding other counties, suggesting a restitution-heavy approach or specific case characteristics. Prison and jail split confinement roughly equally at 38.5 and 35.9 percent.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Vehicle Theft charge in Santa Rosa County makes it in front of a judge. Of 123 prosecutor decisions on Vehicle Theft charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 33.3% — below the 42.4% 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 (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 92.3% of 39 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 39 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 67 | 3.1 years |
| County Jail | 54 | 7.2 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Vehicle Theft sentencing in Santa Rosa County.
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (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 | 31 | 90.3% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 77 | 92.2% | 0.0% | 2.1 years |
| 2024 | 38 | 76.3% | 0.0% | 1 year, 8 months |
| 2025 | 39 | 92.3% | 0.0% | 2.1 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Third Degree | 154 |
Related Charges in Santa Rosa County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 1,307 | 60.4% | 4.9% |
| Drug Possession | 961 | 74.1% | 0.4% |
| Larceny / Theft | 545 | 64.6% | 0.4% |
| Other | 386 | 67.4% | 6.7% |
| Battery | 410 | 55.9% | 0.7% |
| DUI | 397 | 93.7% | 1.8% |
| Resisting Officer | 317 | 74.4% | 2.2% |
| Sex Offense | 157 | 80.3% | 12.1% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Vehicle Theft in Santa Rosa County?
The guilty rate is 92.3% based on 39 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Vehicle Theft in Santa Rosa County?
Adjudication is withheld in 2.6% of cases (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 Vehicle Theft in Santa Rosa County?
The average sentence is 2.1 years, with an average fine of $12,837 (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
46.2% of defendants use a public defender, while 5.1% retain private counsel (2025).
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Vehicle Theft in Santa Rosa County, Florida (2025). Based on 39 public court records; last updated July 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/vehicle-theft/santa-rosa
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Santa Rosa 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 · 39 cases (2025) · Data last updated July 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com