A felony accusation can make it feel as though your future has already been decided. It has not. The arrest report is one account, the filed charge may still change, and the State still has to prove every required part of the case.
You deserve a defense that starts with the facts and sees the person affected by them. Miller & Jacobs helps people understand the charge, the evidence, the Broward County process, and the decisions that may need attention now.
Two former prosecutors. 230+ combined jury trials. Your matter is handled by Mr. Miller or Mr. Jacobs.
Preserve the paperwork, messages, photographs, and original records you have. Do not guess about the facts, delete potential evidence, or ignore a court date while the case is being evaluated.
Circuit Criminal maintains the court records for felony cases filed in Broward County.
Both partners bring prior prosecution experience to the review of the State's theory.
Reported jury trials to verdict across Mark Miller and Rick S. Jacobs's legal careers.
An accepted felony defense matter is handled by Mr. Miller or Mr. Jacobs.
The first useful review separates the charge, the proof, and the decisions that cannot wait. The person accused should not be forced to understand all of that alone.
The broader Pompano Beach criminal defense overview explains how the local process begins when the charge or stage is still unclear.
The arrest affidavit, booking label, and formal charging document may not match. The current docket, filed information, and court notice help define the next step.
Every felony has required elements. Identity, intent, knowledge, possession, value, injury, weapon use, or participation may be disputed depending on the allegation.
Custody, bond conditions, no-contact orders, court dates, interview requests, preserved video, phones, vehicles, location data, or witnesses may need early attention.
“A felony case can place one word next to your name and make it feel larger than everything else. You are still a person with people who care about you, responsibilities that matter, and a future that deserves a real defense.”
The accusation must be confronted carefully, but it should never erase the person living through it.
Florida generally defines a felony as an offense punishable by death or by a state prison sentence longer than one year. The degree identifies a broad statutory range, not the likely result in a specific case.
The offense statute, facts, scoresheet, prior record, and any lawful resolution still affect the real analysis.
The degree may depend on injury, value, quantity, a weapon allegation, prior conduct, or another fact written into the statute.
Some first-degree felonies can be punishable by life when the specific statute says so. The filed section must be checked.
These are separate, high-exposure classifications. The exact charge and offense-specific law control.
Mandatory minimums, enhancements, prior record, Criminal Punishment Code points, offense-specific rules, and the result of the case can change the practical exposure.
One word on a booking page can carry years of fear. Start with what was filed and what needs attention now.
Depending on the charge, the defense may need to test identity, intent, knowledge, possession, value, injury, weapon use, digital records, or another required element.
Presence near an event does not always explain participation. Video, location data, witnesses, access, ownership, and the conduct attributed to each person may matter.
An object, result, injury, or association may not establish the state of mind required by the charged statute. Context matters.
Partial messages, edited clips, account access, device ownership, interview conditions, and missing context can change how a statement should be understood.
Property logs, laboratory work, photographs, DNA, fingerprints, medical records, video, and chain-of-custody materials may require careful review.
Timing, vantage point, prior statements, motive, benefits, memory, uncertainty, and conflict with other records may affect the account.
The stop, detention, search, warrant, identification procedure, interview, seizure, or arrest may raise legal questions tied to the actual facts.
The sequence depends on custody, the investigating agency, the filing decision, the charge, the assigned judge, and the case paperwork.
Confirm the agency, report, alleged offense, property taken, statements, custody status, and immediate court notice.
Review bond, release conditions, no-contact terms, travel limits, supervision, and the next required appearance.
The State may file the same charge, a different charge, additional counts, or no charge. The filed information controls the formal accusation.
Reports, video, statements, physical evidence, digital records, witnesses, experts, and legal issues are examined.
The path may include hearings, motions, negotiation, plea decisions, dismissal, or preparation for a judge or jury.
The Broward Clerk states that Circuit Criminal maintains all felony case records. The Felony Division is located at the Central Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The actual notice and assigned case control where and when a person must appear.
Florida's Criminal Punishment Code uses offense levels and a scoresheet. The primary offense, additional offenses, victim injury, prior record, legal status, and other factors can affect the points. Some statutes add mandatory minimums or enhancements.
The specific section identifies the offense, required facts, felony degree, and any offense-specific penalty language.
Felony offenses are assigned offense levels. The scoresheet converts the applicable factors into points for sentencing analysis.
Prior qualifying convictions and other current offenses may affect the score. The details and legal classification matter.
A weapon, injury, protected status, prior history, or another statutory fact may add a mandatory minimum or change the authorized range.
Miller & Jacobs is headquartered on South Federal Highway. A person facing a felony case can meet at the office or begin by phone or video.
1600 S Federal Highway, Suite 1101
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Mark J. Miller and Rick S. Jacobs are former prosecutors who bring more than 230 reported jury trials combined to the criminal matters they accept.
Former Assistant State Attorney, former insurance-defense lawyer, and more than 70 reported jury trials to verdict.
Read Mark J. Miller's Bio →
Former Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney with more than 160 reported jury trials to verdict.
Read Rick S. Jacobs's Bio →Your matter is handled by Mr. Miller or Mr. Jacobs. Staff, investigators, experts, and other professionals may assist when an accepted matter requires them. Trial counts are firm-reported. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
You are not expected to understand every document or know every answer. Preserve what you have and begin with the next date, restriction, or question.
Bring the arrest affidavit, booking information, notice to appear, filed information, docket printout, or any paper showing the case number and statute.
Include first-appearance papers, bond receipts, no-contact terms, supervision instructions, probation papers, and every upcoming court date.
Preserve complete records and the device or account information that explains where they came from. Do not edit or delete them.
Write down dates, locations, who was present, what you personally observed, and where other records may exist for counsel.
Tell the attorney about the consequences you are worried about so the criminal case can be evaluated with the right questions in view.
These answers provide general orientation. The filed charge, evidence, criminal history, custody, court assignment, and current law can change the answer.
Yes. A person may seek advice during an investigation, after an arrest, or while a filing decision is pending. An early review can identify the current status, interview requests, release terms, court dates, and evidence concerns. It cannot promise that a charge will or will not be filed.
No. Possible exposure depends on the offense, statute, degree, scoresheet, prior record, enhancements, evidence, and result of the case. Not every felony case ends in a prison sentence, but the risk should be evaluated from the actual documents.
A felony charge can change or be dismissed in some cases, but the reason and timing vary. The defense may challenge the evidence, raise legal issues, provide relevant information, litigate motions, negotiate, or prepare for trial. No particular outcome can be promised.
A limited or nonexistent prior record may matter, but it does not erase the filed charge. Eligibility for diversion, a withheld adjudication, reduced treatment, or another option depends on the offense, facts, prosecutor, court, and current law.
Do not lie, destroy evidence, or ignore a subpoena or court order. A request for a voluntary interview is different from a court order. Before agreeing to an interview, written statement, device search, or consent request, get advice about the specific situation.
Broward felony cases are maintained in Circuit Criminal, and the Felony Division is at the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. The assigned judge, courtroom, date, and appearance requirement come from the actual case notice and docket.
The initial consultation is free and confidential. A criminal-defense fee depends on the stage, charge, complexity, expected hearings, investigation, motion practice, and possible trial preparation. Any representation and fee terms should be explained in a written agreement before work begins.
