Weapons Offense in Lee County, Florida
125 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County prosecutors pursued weapons offenses with maximum severity. Guilty verdicts were secured in 88.8% of cases, with adjudication withheld in 10.4%. Notably, no dismissals or diversions occurred—a stark contrast to statewide patterns where dismissals averaged 1.5% and diversion was available in 2.8% of cases. This reflects Lee County's State Attorney's zero-tolerance approach to weapons charges with minimal pretrial alternatives.
Sentences were severe. The median confinement was 1,096 days, with prison in 54.4% of convictions. Average probation lasted 1,114.8 days. Limited private counsel representation (9.6%) left most defendants relying on public defenders or other representation.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Before Court: State Attorney Decisions
Not every Weapons Offense charge in Lee County makes it in front of a judge. Of 1,100 prosecutor decisions on Weapons Offense charges (2023-2025), the State Attorney declined to file, dropped, or dismissed 56.5% — above the 34.5% 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 — 88.8% of 125 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 125 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 (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 223 | 5.5 years |
| County Jail | 95 | 7.3 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Weapons Offense sentencing in Lee County.
Need a Defense Attorney in Lee County?
Get matched with a local attorney who handles Weapons Offense cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Weapons Offense in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 88.8% based on 125 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Weapons Offense in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 10.4% 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 Weapons Offense in Lee County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 4.5 years (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
12.8% of defendants use a public defender, while 9.6% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 64 | 85.9% | 0.0% |
| White | 57 | 93.0% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 187 | 84.5% | 0.5% | 3.8 years |
| 2024 | 170 | 92.4% | 0.6% | 3.9 years |
| 2025 | 125 | 88.8% | 0.0% | 4.5 years |
Quarterly detail
Quarterly figures recompute from monthly disposition counts; quarters with fewer than 30 cases are suppressed.
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 318 |
| Felony | Third Degree | 108 |
| Misdemeanor | First Degree | 46 |
| Misdemeanor | Second Degree | 10 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,155 | 67.9% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,127 | 78.6% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,320 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 999 | 83.0% | 0.7% |
| Resisting Officer | 700 | 85.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 74.2% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 481 | 85.0% | 5.8% |
| Other | 490 | 73.7% | 1.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Weapons Offense in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 125 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/weapons-offense/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee 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 · 125 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com