Pompano Beach • Broward County
A theft charge can leave you worried about your job, your record, and an approaching court date. You need to know where you stand and what can be done to help.
Miller & Jacobs defends petit theft, grand theft, and shoplifting cases in Pompano Beach. We look at the accusation, the records behind it, and your explanation. We explain where the evidence can be challenged and help you choose your next step.
Free and confidential consultation.
Experience assessing the State's evidence
Combined jury trials across their careers
Mr. Miller or Mr. Jacobs handles your matter
Serving clients across Broward County
Building the defense
Is the accusation based on video, an eyewitness, or both? We examine what each source shows and where the account may be incomplete or mistaken.
Video is not required to prove theft. The prosecutor can use witnesses and other evidence, but must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Missing footage alone does not end a case. We look for gaps or mistakes that weaken the proof.
We also examine intent. Florida theft law requires knowing conduct and intent to deprive someone of property or its benefit, even temporarily.
Our Pompano Beach criminal defense lawyers use this review to decide what to raise with the prosecutor and how to prepare for court.
01
We seek the full available footage and compare it with receipts, transaction logs, and the report. Does it show the checkout, or only someone entering or leaving? A missing segment, blocked view, payment attempt, or scanner problem may change what a clip supports. We use that context to challenge conclusions the recording does not establish.
02
What could the witness see, and did they lose sight of the person or item? We check viewing conditions, identification, and conflicts between the first report, later statements, and other records. A confident account can still be mistaken. We use supported inconsistencies to question the witness and test the State's version.
03
Permission, shared access, workplace duties, and messages about a loan or purchase can matter. We examine who owned the item and what each person was allowed to do. Shared ownership alone does not settle whether a use was authorized. Allegations involving deceptive transactions may also need a fraud defense review.
04
The item list, its condition, pricing records, and the way separate transactions were added together deserve review. We check the valuation rule that applies to the allegation and challenge amounts the evidence does not support.
Keep receipts, bank records, and complete messages in their original form. Tell us promptly about cameras or witnesses so we can seek footage before it is erased and contact people while their memories are fresh.
Do not alter records, pressure a witness, or return to a store in violation of a trespass warning. Your lawyer can help arrange a lawful way to gather evidence.
You deserve to have your account heard and the evidence examined carefully. We look for the facts that can help you challenge the accusation and protect your future.
Understanding the allegation
These are Florida’s usual value ranges for theft. Other facts can change the charge, as explained below:
Second-degree petit theft
First-degree petit theft
Third-degree grand theft
A low dollar amount does not always mean a misdemeanor. Prior theft convictions, the kind of property, where it was taken, and certain retail-theft conduct can change the charge. If your child is accused, our juvenile defense lawyers in Pompano Beach can explain the process and options that apply to their case.
We check the charge and the records used to support it, then explain the penalties that could apply. If you face a felony, our Pompano Beach felony defense lawyers can help you understand the next court steps.
Have a court notice, a store demand letter, or a call from an investigator? Tell us what you received and when you need to respond. You do not need to have every document ready before calling.
Decisions about your case
We explain whether to seek dismissal, ask for a lower charge, or prepare for trial. If a court motion is appropriate, we explain what we are asking the judge to do and why. You stay involved in decisions about your defense.
We explain any plea, repayment, probation, or other terms, along with the effect on your record. We weigh those terms against the strength of the case and your priorities so you can make an informed choice.
We check whether you qualify for a Broward diversion program, what you would need to complete, and what happens to the charge if you finish. Approval is required. Misdemeanor diversion also requires accepting responsibility, which matters if you dispute the accusation.
For a Pompano Beach case, we confirm the assigned Broward court, your next date, and whether you must attend. Follow your notice and your lawyer’s instructions.
The partners at Miller & Jacobs
Mr. Miller or Mr. Jacobs is responsible for your defense. Staff, investigators, and experts may assist as the case requires.
Partner
Mark is a former Assistant State Attorney with more than 70 jury trials to verdict. His courtroom experience informs how he assesses the charge and prepares your defense.
Partner
Rick is a former Assistant State Attorney with more than 160 jury trials to verdict. He brings that experience to reviewing the evidence and preparing to question witnesses.
Trial experience informs preparation. It does not predict the result of a new case.
Tell us what you are accused of, whether police have contacted you, and your next court date. Share the concerns driving your decisions, such as work, school, a professional license, or current probation. Let us know about any prior theft cases.
Ask who will handle the case, what the fee covers, and which costs may be separate. The consultation is free; representation costs depend on the charge and the work involved.
What you may be wondering
A genuine mistake can matter because intent is part of a theft charge. We examine receipts, payment attempts, footage, and what was said at checkout to see whether the evidence supports that explanation.
Paying the demand does not by itself close a criminal case. The letter concerns a separate civil claim for money. We review what it asks for, what any payment would settle, and how to respond while defending the criminal charge.
A first charge may leave more options, but it does not guarantee a clean record. We check whether you qualify for diversion and whether sealing or expungement could later limit public access to the record. Each has separate requirements.
It is still a criminal case. Check the court date and follow the notice. We review the paperwork and confirm what you must do next. Do not treat it like a ticket you can simply pay online.
Speak with a defense lawyer before giving a detailed account, signing a statement, or attending a requested interview. A lawyer can help you respond and decide how to present helpful records. Keep following any court orders and release conditions.
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