Levy County Detention Center Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Levy County Florida
Levy County Criminal Court Explained Step by Step
Levy County stretches from the farms around Williston and Chiefland out to the fishing village of Cedar Key on the Gulf. Wherever a crime happens in Levy, the case is heard in the small county seat of Bronson. Florida sets up two courts for this. Levy County Court takes misdemeanors, criminal traffic matters such as DUI or driving without a valid license, and county ordinance cases. Levy Circuit Court takes felonies, plus juvenile cases involving people under 18. Judges for Levy come from Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit; the circuit’s other five counties are Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist and Union. Gainesville, in Alachua, is the circuit’s largest city. Families often use our bail guide and inmate search next.
The Levy County Courthouse is at 355 S. Court Street, Bronson, FL 32621. The Clerk of Court’s main phone is (352) 486-5266. People arrested in Levy are held by the Sheriff’s Levy County Detention Bureau, a jail on the Sheriff’s campus at 9150 NE 80th Avenue in Bronson.
Case lookup that costs nothing: Levy’s Clerk puts its court records on the shared statewide portal for smaller counties. From the list, pick Levy. Searching works by name, and by case number too. The record shows charges, hearing dates and final results. Florida law hides some things from the public, including juvenile cases and records a judge has sealed.
Federal court: Levy’s federal cases go to Gainesville, where the Northern District of Florida runs its Gainesville Division from the federal building at 401 SE 1st Avenue (ZIP 32601). Here’s how to tell the two systems apart. Most crimes break Florida law and are tried in Bronson. Federal charges come from laws Congress wrote, or from crimes on land the national government manages. Levy’s coastline is home to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge and the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, both federal land. Breaking the law there, such as harming protected wildlife, may lead to federal charges. The Gulf coast here, with its many quiet creeks and islands, has a long history of drug smuggling by boat, and those cases often go federal. Levy has no tribal reservation. All of Florida’s reservations are in the southern part of the state. Click a topic below.
Immigration holds. An ICE detainer in Levy, step by step:
- F.S. 908.105 requires telling the Levy bond judge
- Levy prosecutors are told as well
- bond is still possible in Levy
- the jail may hold them 48 more hours for ICE
- Levy counts weekends and holidays in that time
- F.S. 907.041: in Levy, an unauthorized alien facing a Levy forcible felony charge stays in the Levy jail until first appearance
- after that hearing, Levy judges start from detention, though Levy defense lawyers can rebut it
Town courts. Levy has no city or town courts. The 1972 Article V reform phased them out. In Levy, a city ordinance case goes to Levy County Court, which also hears misdemeanors.
- Levy County Court charges: DUI, trespass, petit theft, fighting
- Levy Circuit Court felonies: burglary, meth, livestock theft
- Levy violent felonies: murder, armed robbery
- How are Bronson court warrants checked?
1. Levy County Court charges: DUI, trespass, petit theft, fighting
Step 1, the arrest or the ticket. For a minor charge, a Levy deputy or a Chiefland or Williston officer might hand over a notice to appear. That’s a court summons written on the spot, and you go home. Otherwise, the person is booked at the Detention Bureau.
Step 2, first appearance. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130 sets a 24-hour deadline to bring jailed people in front of a judge. At this hearing, the judge reviews the arrest and sets the rules for release. Until then, Bronson jail staff go by the 2026 statewide bond chart written by Florida’s Supreme Court, which names the lowest bond for each offense. Some charges, though, must wait for a judge. Families short on cash often call a bondsman, licensed by the state, who covers the bond for a premium, typically 10%, that the family won’t see again.
Step 3, the case. State law limits a first-degree misdemeanor to a year in the Levy jail and $1,000. Sixty days and $500 is the cap for second degree. Many Levy cases end with probation, fines or community service. The Eighth Circuit State Attorney prosecutes. Defendants with no money for a lawyer may request that the court appoint the Eighth Circuit Public Defender. When a conflict blocks that office, a backup state office may be named: Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel. Levy judges may order a fee for appointed counsel under Fla. Stat. 938.29, and an unpaid fee may become a lien. Levy prosecutors sometimes offer first-timers pretrial diversion: complete a program and the charge can go away. A trial uses a six-person jury. Florida’s speedy trial rule puts a 90-day limit on misdemeanor cases, counted from formal charging, unless a defendant gives it up.
If the person is under 18: Teens in Levy see a juvenile judge in Circuit Court for misdemeanors, not a County Court judge. Officers can often use a civil citation for a first-time minor offense, as Fla. Stat. 985.12 allows. That means doing service hours or counseling instead of being arrested, with no arrest record if it’s finished.
2. Levy Circuit Court felonies: burglary, meth, livestock theft
Felonies are charges serious enough to put a Levy resident in state prison. In Levy, after first appearance, the prosecutor files an information. That’s the official charging document. The arraignment is next, and the defendant answers with a plea. For felonies, Florida allows 175 days from formal charging to trial, and the defense may waive it.
Felony maximums are 5 years for third degree, 15 years for second degree and 30 years for first degree. A life felony can carry life in prison. The judge figures out the lowest sentence allowed with a scoresheet from the Criminal Punishment Code. The scoresheet gives points for the main charge, any other charges, injuries to victims and prior record. In Florida prisons, inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentences. The 10-20-Life law makes certain gun crimes carry mandatory minimums: 10 years for a gun in hand, 20 if a shot is fired, and a range from 25 years to life if that shot leaves a person dead or gravely hurt.
Six jurors decide Levy felony trials, and all six must agree. Most felonies here end in plea deals.
If the person is under 18: Levy has no juvenile detention center. Teens held on felonies are taken to a regional Department of Juvenile Justice center, usually Gainesville’s Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Inside 24 hours, a detention hearing settles whether the teen can return home. “Direct file” is when prosecutors shift a juvenile felony into adult court, which they may do for many charges filed on 16- and 17-year-olds. Under Fla. Stat. 985.557, 14- and 15-year-olds face it only for a short list of the worst crimes.
3. Levy violent felonies: murder, armed robbery
Violent felonies in Levy use the same steps, with harsher results possible. A judge may refuse any bond when the offense carries life or death and the state’s evidence is solid. For capital crimes, Florida requires an indictment from a grand jury, a panel of Levy citizens who hear evidence in a closed room and vote on whether to charge.
First-degree murder is called a capital felony, and its two possible sentences are life with no parole and death. In death penalty cases, 12 jurors decide. A 2023 law lowered the needed vote, so now 8 jurors out of 12 can recommend death. Union Correctional Institution near Raiford keeps most condemned men, while condemned women live at Lowell Correctional Institution. Robbery with a firearm and sexual battery may rank as first-degree or life felonies.
Victims in Levy are protected by Marsy’s Law, part of Florida’s constitution. They may get updates on the schedule, come to hearings, and explain to the judge how the crime changed their lives, especially at sentencing. Prosecutors there have victim advocates who support them.
If the person is under 18: For an offense that carries death or life, Fla. Stat. 985.56 lets Levy’s grand jury indict a youth of any age, and then the adult court hears it. Even then, Florida won’t execute someone for a crime from their teen years.
4. How are Bronson court warrants checked?
Levy deputies keep the Eighth Circuit warrant file, and the Sheriff's Office answers at (352) 486-5111. Use the shared court records search to see cases and any capias. Book your surrender through a lawyer at the detention bureau on NE 80th Avenue, which goes far better than an arrest on the road. South Court Street houses the clerk for new dates, and Chiefland, Williston and Cedar Key cases are filed there too. Statewide, FDLE publishes a wanted persons database of warrants other agencies release.
Use this Bronson court guide as background only, not legal advice. Since every case is different, get help from a lawyer or call the Levy County Clerk of Court at (352) 486-5266.
Criminal Court Process for Levy County Florida
Levy County Florida Criminal Court System - Definitions
It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Florida Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.
If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Levy County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.
Arrest is when Florida, Levy County, or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed.
In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Levy County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.
Booking is when the Levy County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation and verification of identity.
The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that press the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Florida, Levy County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for the Levy County or the district is called the State’s Attorney. A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.
Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case. For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case. If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime. Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.
Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.
Bail is money paid that is held by the Levy County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment.
Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Levy County jail until their trial. Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail and of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule. When you are arrested, under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process and the defendant is eligible to bond out before going to court. Prior to January1, 2024, each county sets their own bond schedule, and the bond amount was set during booking.
During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. Jailors, law enforcement and prosecutors do not have authority to set bail, a judge or court officer in the Levy County or municipal court sets bail. Judges in Florida rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
If someone is arrested for failure to appear or a violation of probation or a violation of pretrial release, there will be no granting of a bond even after first appearance court.
It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested. Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
(There have been phone scams to where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
All bonds in Florida are secured, meaning that the courts will not allow a personal recognizance bond as other states. A defendant can pay a cash bond however if the bond amount is less than $250, a bondsman will not handle it.
Surety Bond is the most common type of secured bond in Florida. It is when defendant pays 10 % of the bond amount to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in Florida. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Florida.
Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted). This is handled by a bail bond company. Usually, the property must be in Levy County and it must be worth 1 ½ or 2 times the bond amount. An appraisal of the property is required and everyone on the deed must sign.
Transfer Bonds are transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. For a Florida resident arrested in another state, bond companies will do transfer bonds but the person putting up the security has to be a Florida resident.
A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest. If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases and certain appeal cases.
Everyone is appointed a public defender in Florida at first appearance court (unless you retain private counsel fast enough that they can appear). The $50 public defender fee gets tacked on to fees and costs once the case is ended. There are also several offices of conflict counsel that handle cases that the public defenders cannot represent due to a conflict of interest or special subject matter.
For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view. This website provides contact information for pro bono services in Florida.
Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se. Here is a link for legal self-help centers in Florida.
A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are located in the community. A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are three U.S. federal district courts in Florida, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.
Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered. This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.
Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings. A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment. The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty. There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of more serious criminal related to the crime.
Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether if the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial. If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial. If the defendant is found non-guilty, they are released. If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.
Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.
Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court. If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.
Florida Felony vs Misdemeanor
In Florida, a misdemeanor is divided into two classes. Misdemeanor in the first degree that holds a punishment of a jail sentence up to 1 year and a fine up to $1000. Examples on a first-degree misdemeanor include DUI, simple assault, certain types of theft under $750 and possession of small amounts of controlled substances. Misdemeanor in the second degree holds a punishment of up to 60 days and a fine up to $500. Examples of second-degree misdemeanor include petty theft, disorderly conduct and certain types of trespassing.
A felony crime is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and are divided into different classes which are general guidelines and are based on the crime, prior criminal history and other factors. Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft. In Florida, the classes of felonies are capital felony, life felony, felony of the first degree, second degree and third degree.
The Levy County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.
A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement. There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime.
A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date. It does not involve an arrest. A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.
A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.
Fines are usually paid to the District Court or Levy County Clerk of Court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, have to pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest. It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket.
Florida Criminal Court System - How it Works
In Florida, the courts system is made up of county courts, circuit courts, district courts of appeal and one Supreme Court. Florida does not have municipal courts. It is important that you get the address of the court that you are to appear at because going to the wrong courthouse is not always an accepted excuse for not showing to court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.
County courts are in each county of Florida and some call them misdemeanor or traffic court. County court handles all misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases. Most counties have their own traffic citation courts.
Circuit courts only hear felony cases. Many cases are heard by a single judge. First appearance court is handled by a single judge in most circuits or it is rotated among all the circuit judges. Also, some circuits have one judge that handles just violations of probation, one judge that handles just post-conviction matters, one judge that handles only capital cases and specialty courts.
Juvenile cases are heard in circuit court. Most counties/circuits have their own juvenile court divisions. The following web page describes services and resources for Florida’s juvenile justice.
Specialty courts or problem-solving courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Florida offers problem-solving courts solutions throughout the state that offer attention to the following areas: adult drug use, juvenile drug use, dependency, DUI, mental health and veteran court.
District courts of appeal conduct review of cases on appeal from county and circuit courts.
Tribal Court is available for the Seminole Tribe.
The Florida Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Florida State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal.
The criminal cases are usually referred from the district courts of appeal.
FEDERAL COURT
Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws. Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.
Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime.
There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Florida state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).
Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.
There are three U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Florida.
