Larceny / Theft in Okeechobee County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
243 cases compared (2023-2025) · Okeechobee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Okeechobee County, we compared 221 Larceny / Theft cases with public defenders against 22 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Public defenders achieved a 3.6 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 243 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025 in this view, so multi-year figures are shown.
Dismissal Rate by Counsel Type (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Dismissal rate by counsel type, Okeechobee County (2023-2025)
GapPublic defender clients' dismissal rate runs 3.6 points above private attorney clients in Okeechobee County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 243 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 221 | 22 | 49 |
| Dismissal Rate | 3.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Conviction Rate | 96.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Guilty Rate | 83.3% | 50.0% | 69.4% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 13.1% | 50.0% | 30.6% |
| Diversion Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Avg Sentence | 7.5 months | 1 year, 1 months | 27 days |
| Avg Fine | $444 | $390 | $316 |
| Avg Probation | 1 year, 5 months | 1 year | 7.7 months |
Important context: Correlation is not causation. Private attorney clients may differ from public defender clients in income, prior criminal history, charge severity, and willingness to go to trial. These factors independently affect outcomes. This data is informational and does not constitute legal advice.
Statewide Comparison (2023-2025)
Statewide, the dismissal rate for Larceny / Theft is 1.4% with public defenders and 1.4% with private attorneys (0.0 point difference). Okeechobee County's -3.6 point difference is below the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okeechobee County | 3.6% | 0.0% | -3.6 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.0 pts |
Other Charges in Okeechobee County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 664 | 0.8% | 201 | 0.0% |
| Drug Possession | 376 | 8.5% | 43 | 27.9% |
| Battery | 227 | 7.0% | 54 | 11.1% |
| DUI | 147 | 1.4% | 122 | 0.0% |
| Other | 142 | 3.5% | 42 | 7.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 92 | 2.2% | 15 | 0.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Larceny / Theft in Okeechobee County?
In Okeechobee County, private attorney clients have a 0.0% dismissal rate for Larceny / Theft compared to 3.6% for public defender clients. This is a -3.6 percentage point difference based on 243 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Larceny / Theft in Okeechobee County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Larceny / Theft in Okeechobee County is 96.4% with a public defender and 100.0% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Okeechobee County compare to statewide averages for Larceny / Theft counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.4% for public defenders and 1.4% for private attorneys. Okeechobee County's difference of -3.6 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.0 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Larceny / Theft in Okeechobee County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 243 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/larceny-theft/okeechobee
Conviction includes guilty pleas and adjudication withheld. Data covers 2023–2025 FDLE public court records. Last updated: September 2026
Important: Differences in outcomes between public defenders and private attorneys may reflect differences in case complexity, defendant resources, charge severity, and other factors — not solely attorney quality. These statistics do not predict individual case outcomes.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 243 cases analyzed · Okeechobee County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026