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Courts - Felony Charges

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1. What is a felony charge?

A felony is any criminal offense that is punishable under Florida laws, or that would be punishable if committed in Florida, by death or imprisonment in a state correctional facility.

Felony charges include, but are not limited to murder, manslaughter, robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated child abuse, sexual battery, kidnapping, burglary, grand theft, battery on law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, willful or aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, possession and/or sale of drugs, communication fraud, forgery, and passing worthless bank checks. Felonies are classified into 5 categories, based on severity of the crime:
- Capital Felonies, punishable by death or life in prison.
- Life Felonies, punishable by life in prison.
- First Degree Felonies, punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
- Second Degree Felonies, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
- Third Degree Felonies, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

2. What happens after an arrest on a felony offense?

An arrest on a felony offense means that the defendant is usually booked into the county detention facility. Most felony offenses are bondable according to the approved bail schedule. Except when previously released in a lawful manner, every arrested person is taken before a judge, by electronic audiovisual device within 24 hours of arrest, for first appearance. In the case of a child in the custody of juvenile authorities, against whom an information or indictment has been filed, the child is taken for a first appearance hearing within 24 hours of the filing of the information or indictment. At your first appearance before a judge, if you have not completed a financial affidavit, you will be asked if you can afford the services of an attorney. If you cannot, the judge will question you orally regarding your financial situation, then decide whether to appoint a public defender as your attorney, provisional upon a determination of indigence by the clerk, or instruct you to seek private counsel. If you have completed a financial affidavit, and the clerk has made a determination of indigence, the public defender will be appointed, and this information will be provided to the first appearance judge. A $50 application fee will be assessed to your case whether a public defender is appointed or not. The Clerk's office receives the initial paperwork from the Citrus County Sheriff's Department after a felony arrest. The Felony Division prepares the official court file, including arrest documents as well as any release form. Copies of this information are forwarded to the State Attorney's Office. The State Attorney then reviews the case to decide whether to file formal charges. If a public defender is appointed, copies of the paperwork are also forwarded to the Public Defender's Office.

3. How will I know when and where I go to court?

When formal charges are filed with the Clerk's office, you will be notified by mail of (1) an arraignment date if you do not have counsel, or (2) a status conference date if you do have counsel. Arraignment and/or status conference dates are usually 30-45 days after the formal charges have been filed with the Clerk. All notices will be sent to the address that was given at the time of arrest. If you bonded out of jail, your bondsman will be notified as well. Your case number, type of court event, date/time, and location of hearing will be displayed on all court notices. You can view the details of your case online. Visit the website,

Secured Courts Online Record Search System.

4. How do I have a public defender appointed to my case?

At your arraignment, you will have an opportunity to complete an Affidavit of Indigent Status form, and request the appointment of the public defender. You may also, prior to arraignment, file an Affidavit of Indigent Status, with the Felony Division of the Clerk's office. A determination of indigent status will be made by a deputy clerk based on the information in the Affidavit. A $50 application fee will be assessed to your case whether a public defender is appointed or not.

5. How do I get a new attorney assigned to my case if I have a conflict with my present attorney?

You may request, at any of your court proceedings, to speak with the presiding judge regarding your issues with counsel.

6. What if I move?

If you move, it is your responsibility to notify the Clerk's Office, in writing. An Address Change form can be obtained at the Clerk's office or can be printed from here: Address Change Form (PDF)

File your written notification with the Felony Division of the Clerks Office at:
110 N Apopka Avenue
Inverness, Fl 34450

7. How do I change my court date after notification?

The Felony Division of the Clerk's Office cannot change your court date. Please contact your attorney for assistance.

8. What happens if I fail to appear for my court date?

Failure to appear may result in serious consequences. A felony judge may issue a capias for your arrest. You may forfeit any bond that you have posted, thus losing money or collateral. If you are arrested for failure to appear, you may be held in the Citrus County Jail without bond.

9. How do I find information about my case or other felony cases?

Contact our Customer Service at 352-341-6424, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Public access computers are available for viewing file information. The public access computers are located in Clerk's Office at: 110 N Apopka Avenue Inverness, Fl 34450 You may view your case through our online search, on the

Secured Courts Online Record Search System.

10. If I want copies of paperwork from a court file, is there a charge?

There is a fee of $1 per page. If you need the document certified, there is an additional fee of $2.

11. May I file a document by fax?

The Felony Division will accept faxed copies of documents. The identical document in paper form, with an original signature, must be filed with the Clerk's Office. The documents can be submitted to fax number 352-341-6413.

12. How do I get my bond money back now that my case has been disposed?

At the conclusion of your case, the Clerk shall withhold from the return of a cash bond, posted on behalf of a criminal defendant by a person other than a bail bond agent, sufficient funds to pay any unpaid court fees, court costs, and criminal penalties. If the amount posted is greater than the fees, costs, and penalties due, the balance will be refunded to the depositor by mail, generally within ten business days of the disposition of the case. You may contact our Felony Department at 352-341-6424 for more information about your bond. Monies paid to a Bail Bondsman are not refundable.

13. What happens to the evidence submitted in my case? How do I get it back?

You must petition the court, in writing, for an order releasing any evidence that was submitted as court evidence. All evidence submitted as court evidence is placed in the custody of the Clerk's Office, and cannot be released without a court order. The Clerk's Office does not provide forms for this purpose.

14. How do I withdraw my plea?

You may want to seek the advice of counsel. You may file a pro se motion with the sentencing judge. For more information, visit the Florida Bar website.

15. How can I have my case sealed or expunged?

To seal or expunge a criminal record requires court approval. For more information, visit the Seal or Expunge a Record page: Sealed and Expunged Resource

16. How do I have my civil rights restored?

The Department of Corrections informs and educates inmates and offenders on community supervision about the restoration of civil rights and assists eligible inmates and offenders on community supervision with the completion of the application for the restoration of civil rights. A certified copy of the applicant's information, indictment, judgment, or sentence will be furnished by the Clerk's Office to the applicant, free of charge pursuant to Section 940.04, Florida Statutes. For more information, visit the Florida Department of Corrections website.

17. How do I know when a trial is scheduled for public viewing?

To obtain information about felony trials, you may contact our office at 352-341-6424.

18. What is a grand jury? When does it meet? Are the sessions public?

A grand jury consists of no fewer than 15, and no more than 21, persons selected from a pool of petit jurors. A new grand jury is selected in the spring and fall each year. There must be a quorum of at least 15 grand jurors present at any one time in order to proceed. A deputy clerk must be present at the end of each session to receive and file any presentments, indictment or no true bills filed by the grand jury. Tentative session dates are agreed to, and set by, the sitting grand jurors. Grand jury proceedings are secret and not open to the public.

19. What local agencies are involved in the Citrus County Criminal Justice System?

Local agencies that are involved in the Citrus County Criminal Justice System are:
- Office of the State Attorney
- Office of the Public Defender
- Citrus County Sheriff's Office
- Florida Department of Corrections
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Statewide Prosecutor's Office
- Department of Juvenile Justice

20. What if I want to appeal the final decision of the judge in my case?

By law and right, any defendant can appeal any decision of the judge or the jury. Appeals from the Citrus County Circuit Court are filed and heard in the Fifth District Court of Appeals, Daytona Beach, Florida. Your Notice of Appeal and other appropriate paperwork should be filed with the Citrus County Clerk's Office.

Fees for filing an Appeal in a felony case are: $100 payable to the Citrus County Clerk of Circuit Court, and $300 payable to the District Court of Appeals.

21. Where can I pay my court fine/fees and costs?

Online

Payments can be made online with a credit card. The online payment center can be used 24 hours a day to ensure timely payments. There is a service fee for using a credit card and any payment made after 4pm will be posted the following business day.

In person

Payment by cash, check, money order or credit card can be made at our office located at :
Citrus County Courthouse
Clerk of Court
110 N Apopka Ave
Inverness, FL 34450

By mail

Check or money order can be mailed to :
Citrus County Clerk of Court
110 N Apopka Ave
Inverness, FL 34450

By phone

To make a payment by phone, please call (844) 400-6727 Monday - Friday 7am - 12am and Saturday - Sunday 9am - 6pm EST. There is a service fee for processing payments over the phone. Once you have submitted your payment, you will receive an email from the credit card vendor letting you know if the court has accepted or rejected your payment. Please be sure to have your case number ready when calling to ensure proper credit to your case.

22. How do I find out IF there is a capias or bench warrant out for my arrest?

The Clerk’s Office cannot give out any information on capiases or bench warrants. Effective 10/1/2022, all active warrants, capiases, active orders for arrest including Writs of Bodily Attachment will not be viewable to the public on the Clerk of Court’s website pursuant to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420(c)(6).  

To review the details of your most recent court hearing, you may access https://scorss.citrusclerk.org/ and view the Court Order Disposition located in the case.   Some cases may require you to register as a party and submit a user agreement to our office to view your case.   

 

To obtain information on capiases or bench warrants  you may try one of the alternative options below.

• If you have an attorney, you should contact him or her to obtain further information.
• If you are on probation, contact your probation officer.
• Obtain or view a copy of your driving record at https://services.flhsmv.gov/dlcheck/ 

Did you fail to appear for a court hearing? If you did not appear for court, it is possible the Judge may have issued a capias. You can motion the Judge to request for the court date to be rescheduled and recall any potential capias issued, contact your attorney, or contact your probation officer.