Levy County Bench Warrants

Levy County bench warrants are issued by judges in the 8th Judicial Circuit when someone misses a court hearing or violates a court order. Bronson is the county seat and where the courthouse is located. With about 47,765 residents, Levy County is a mid-size rural county on Florida's Gulf Coast. You can search for active bench warrants through the Levy County Clerk of Court, the Sheriff's Office, or the statewide FDLE database. All bench warrants are public records under Florida law. This page covers where to search, what the penalties are for having one, and how to handle the situation.

Levy County Clerk of Court

The Levy County Clerk of Court maintains all court case records, including bench warrants. The office is at 355 S. Court St. in Bronson, Florida 32621. Call (352) 486-5266 for questions about cases or warrants. The clerk staff can pull up a bench warrant by name or case number. They handle bond payments, case filings, public records requests, and all the paperwork that comes with court cases in Levy County.

Levy County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit, the same circuit that includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, and Union counties. The main circuit courthouse is in Gainesville, but Levy County cases are heard in Bronson. Under Florida Statute 901.04, a bench warrant from Levy County can be served by any sheriff in the state. A warrant issued in Bronson is just as valid in Tampa, Miami, or anywhere else in Florida. The warrant stays active with no geographic limit.

Under Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119, bench warrant records in Levy County are open to the public. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be a party to the case. The clerk may charge a small fee for copies of printed documents.

Search Levy County Bench Warrants Online

Levy County is a smaller county without its own online court records search portal. If you need to check for bench warrants, the best online option is the FDLE statewide warrant database. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement collects warrant data from all 67 counties, including Levy. It gets updated every 24 hours. You search by name or date of birth. The results show the charge, warrant type, and which agency issued it.

The FDLE database includes multiple warrant types from Levy County. Bench warrants for failure to appear, arrest warrants, direct capias warrants, violation of probation warrants, and fugitive warrants all show up in the system. Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge needs probable cause to issue any of these warrants. Once signed, the bench warrant goes into the system and stays there.

The Florida Statutes page shows the legal framework that governs how bench warrants are issued in Levy County and across the state.

You can also call the clerk at (352) 486-5266 to check on a specific bench warrant by phone. For in-person lookups, visit the courthouse at 355 S. Court St. in Bronson during business hours.

Levy County Sheriff Warrant Service

The Levy County Sheriff's Office handles all warrant service in the county. The office is at 9150 NE 80th Ave. in Bronson, FL 32621. Call (352) 486-5111 for warrant info. Deputies serve bench warrants, arrest warrants, and capias warrants. When someone gets picked up on a bench warrant in Levy County, they get booked at the county jail and wait to see a judge.

A bench warrant from Levy County does not expire. That is a key fact. Search warrants expire after 10 days under Florida Statute 933.05. But bench warrants have no time limit at all. One from several years ago is still active. Deputies can serve a bench warrant any day of the week and at any hour. There are no restrictions on when a bench warrant can be executed. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers eWarrants system makes sure bench warrants from Levy County show up in law enforcement databases statewide.

Note: All Levy County bench warrants are entered into the FCIC and NCIC databases, making them accessible to law enforcement officers across the state and nation.

Bench Warrant Penalties in Levy County

Missing court in Levy County brings new criminal charges on top of your existing case. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony is a third-degree felony. That is up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, which is up to one year in jail. The bench warrant from Levy County is what the judge uses to get you back, but the failure to appear itself is a separate crime with its own penalties.

Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not show up after proper notice. In Levy County, the judge can choose which tool to use depending on the case. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or the state attorney can also prepare a direct capias to bring someone in for sentencing or adjudication. All of these result in an arrest order.

Resolving Levy County Bench Warrants

If you have a bench warrant in Levy County, the smart move is to call a lawyer first. A criminal defense attorney can look at the case and decide whether a motion to quash is realistic. Sometimes a judge will recall a bench warrant, especially when the charge is minor or the case is old. Other times, turning yourself in at the Levy County Jail in Bronson is the best path forward. Voluntary surrender tends to work in your favor when you finally see the judge.

To resolve a bench warrant in Levy County:

• Hire an attorney to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Turn yourself in at the Levy County Jail
• Call the sheriff at (352) 486-5111 for warrant questions
• Contact the clerk at (352) 486-5266 for case info

Be wary of scam calls. Real law enforcement in Levy County will not call you and demand money over the phone to clear a bench warrant. No gift cards, no wire transfers. If you get that kind of call, hang up. Verify through the clerk's office or the sheriff's non-emergency line. Bench warrant resolution in Levy County always goes through the court system, never through a phone payment.

Cities in Levy County

Levy County includes the communities of Bronson, Williston, Chiefland, Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Inglis, and Fanning Springs. All bench warrants in the county are handled through the 8th Judicial Circuit Court. No cities in Levy County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All warrant matters go through the courthouse in Bronson.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Levy County. Confirm your bench warrant is in the right county before you take action. Each county has its own clerk and sheriff that handle warrants.