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CRIMINAL MISCHIEF ($1,000 OR MORE) (F.S. § 806.13(1)(b)3)
DIVERSION (PTI)
Santa Rosa County, FL
29 de enero de 2026
Client was charged in Santa Rosa County with Criminal Mischief ($1,000 or More) (F.S. § 806.13(1)(b)3), a third-degree felony carrying up to 5 years in Florida State Prison and up to a $5,000 fine. The charge alleged intentional damage to property valued at over $1,000 in connection with a [REDACTED] incident. A felony conviction for criminal mischief creates a permanent felony record with devastating consequences for employment prospects, professional licensing, housing applications, and civil rights — including the permanent loss of voting rights and the right to possess firearms under Florida law. The client was a [REDACTED] working professional whose livelihood and career trajectory depended on maintaining a clean record. The initial plea offer from the State was adjudication withheld with 36 months of felony probation — a resolution that, while avoiding formal conviction, would have subjected the client to nearly three years of supervision, substantial restitution payments, and the constant risk of a prison sentence for any technical violation.
The defense team rejected the State's initial offer and took an aggressive posture, conducting independent investigation, deposing key witnesses under oath, and pressing the prosecution on critical proof deficiencies in their case. Through sustained negotiation — including a carefully crafted counter-offer strategy that addressed the alleged victim's restitution concerns while protecting the client's record and future — we secured the client's entry into the Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program. PTI allows the client to complete reasonable program requirements and, upon successful completion, have the felony charge completely dismissed with full eligibility to seal or expunge the arrest record under Florida law. This resolution avoided a felony conviction, eliminated the threat of state prison, preserved the client's career and professional licensing, and provided a clear path to a completely clean record. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case depends on its facts and circumstances.