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Many people don’t take shoplifting charges seriously, but you have every reason to. A shoplifting charge may or may not cause incarceration. However, you will deal with fines, mandatory community service, and a permanent criminal record. If you are charged with shoplifting, don’t wait to hire an attorney. Here’s how your lawyer might challenge the charges against you.
A primary element a prosecutor must prove in a shoplifting case is that the defendant intended to take the items. Many people actually forget to pay when they leave the store. Or, if they realized they forgot to pay for an item, they may try to return it. If the defendant had no intent to steal, then it logically follows that no crime actually took place.
Many shoplifting cases rely on video footage of the plaintiff taking items from a store. However, surveillance footage is often grainy and it can be difficult to make out specific facial features or other identifying marks that would make it possible to match the person in the video to the plaintiff beyond the shadow of a doubt. While this defense may not always be applicable, it sometimes proves useful if a defense attorney believes they can make the jury question who was really in the video.
If no video footage is available, many prosecutors will attempt to call witnesses who will say that they saw the plaintiff take items from the store. However, witness statements can often be discredited for a variety of reasons. In fact, a witness with poor vision may be considered unreliable, or there may be a witness who stands to gain something from pointing the finger at the defendant.
Don’t let shoplifting charges change your life and make it more difficult for you to get a job, obtain credit, or even rent an apartment. If you’ve been arrested for shoplifting, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can defend you and increase the chances that the charges against you will be reduced or dismissed entirely.
Contact Leah H. Mayersohn, Esq. at Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense today for a consultation by calling 954-400-5000.
Have you already been accused of bank fraud? If so, you need a Bank Fraud Defense lawyer who can help you prepare right away. The prosecution will likely have a lot of lead time in a case like this, but you cannot ignore the opportunities to protect yourself.
Hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale bank fraud defense attorney should be the first thing you do after you suspect that you are under investigation for bank fraud or after you have been formally charged. Anyone accused of bank fraud crimes in Florida is protected by the U.S. Constitution and is considered innocent until proven guilty. Bank fraud is defined as attempting to execute or executing any scheme that obtains credits, monies or other property under the control of a financial institution through fraudulent or false pretenses or any scheme that attempts to defraud a financial institution.
With maximum fines of $1 million and decades in prison at stake, it is important to know the value of mooning a proper bank fraud defense. Prosecutors and law enforcement cannot engage in the legal searches or seizures affecting those associated with bank fraud charges and anyone who has been accused has the right not to incriminate themselves and to retain an attorney as soon as possible. Many criminal defendants, especially those who are currently under investigation for bank fraud, don’t have a comprehensive understanding of their constitutional rights and do not know how to navigate the justice system effectively.
Claims associated with bank fraud can be high stakes and complex as prosecutors may do everything possible to seize assets prior to the establishment of a trial. This means that a defendant may be struggling to protect any of their property while mounting a case to defend against these critical criminal charges. The right attorney is a vital asset when preparing a defense involving bank fraud. With so much on the line for your future, you cannot afford to leave this to chance. You need a Fort Lauderdale attorney who is highly experienced with managing bank fraud allegations to begin preparing your defense immediately.
Address:
101 N.E. Third Avenue, Suite 1250
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Tel: 954-765-1900
Fax: 954-827-8118
