Vehicle Theft in Lake County — Public Defender vs Private Attorney
198 cases compared (2023-2025) · Lake County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
In Lake County, we compared 141 Vehicle Theft cases with public defenders against 57 cases with private attorneys (2023-2025). Private attorneys achieved a 1.1 percentage point higher dismissal rate.
Figures cover 198 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, Lake County (2023-2025)
GapPrivate attorney clients' dismissal rate runs 1.1 points above public defender clients in Lake County.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 198 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Full Comparison: Public Defender vs Private Attorney (2023-2025)
| Metric | Public Defender | Private Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cases | 141 | 57 |
| Dismissal Rate | 0.7% | 1.8% |
| Conviction Rate | 95.7% | 94.7% |
| Guilty Rate | 89.4% | 84.2% |
| Adjudication Withheld | 6.4% | 10.5% |
| Diversion Rate | 3.5% | 1.8% |
| Avg Sentence | 1 year, 6 months | 1 year, 9 months |
| Avg Fine | $255 | $250 |
| Avg Probation | 2.8 years | 2.8 years |
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 Vehicle Theft is 1.0% with public defenders and 1.7% with private attorneys (0.7 point difference). Lake County's 1.1 point difference is above the statewide average.
| Location | PD Dismissal | Private Dismissal | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 0.7% | 1.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Florida (Statewide) | 1.0% | 1.7% | +0.7 pts |
Other Charges in Lake County (2023-2025)
| Charge | PD Cases | PD Dismissal | Private Cases | Private Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 2,948 | 0.6% | 1,272 | 1.4% |
| Traffic Offense | 2,306 | 1.2% | 1,507 | 0.3% |
| Larceny / Theft | 1,692 | 1.7% | 656 | 0.3% |
| Other | 1,037 | 2.3% | 919 | 3.3% |
| Battery | 1,081 | 2.1% | 631 | 1.1% |
| Resisting Officer | 1,051 | 2.3% | 431 | 1.2% |
| DUI | 405 | 1.0% | 643 | 0.6% |
| Trespassing | 893 | 6.0% | 139 | 0.7% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should you hire a private attorney for Vehicle Theft in Lake County?
In Lake County, private attorney clients have a 1.8% dismissal rate for Vehicle Theft compared to 0.7% for public defender clients. This is a 1.1 percentage point difference based on 198 cases. However, correlation is not causation — private attorney clients may have different case characteristics.
What are the conviction rates for Vehicle Theft in Lake County by counsel type?
The conviction rate for Vehicle Theft in Lake County is 95.7% with a public defender and 94.7% with a private attorney. Conviction includes both guilty findings and adjudication withheld.
How does Lake County compare to statewide averages for Vehicle Theft counsel outcomes?
Statewide, the dismissal rate is 1.0% for public defenders and 1.7% for private attorneys. Lake County's difference of 1.1 points compares to a statewide difference of 0.7 points.
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Vehicle Theft in Lake County, Florida — Public Defender vs Private Attorney Outcomes (2023-2025). Based on 198 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/counsel-outcomes/vehicle-theft/lake
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 · 198 cases analyzed · Lake County · 2023-2025 · Data last updated September 2026