Fort Lauderdale Robbery Lawyer
Florida prosecutes robbery more aggressively than most states, and Broward County’s court system reflects that. Under Florida Statute 812.13, robbery is classified as a second-degree felony carrying up to fifteen years in prison, and that number climbs sharply the moment a weapon enters the picture. Fort Lauderdale robbery cases are handled in the 17th Judicial Circuit, located at the Broward County Courthouse on West Broward Boulevard, where prosecutors routinely seek maximum sentences on violent crime charges. The Baez Law Firm brings the same caliber of defense that won acquittals in some of the most scrutinized criminal cases in American history to clients facing robbery charges in Broward County and across South Florida.
What Florida’s Robbery Statutes Actually Require Prosecutors to Prove
Robbery under Florida law is not simply taking something from another person. The statute requires the prosecution to establish that the defendant took property from the victim’s person or custody, that force, violence, assault, or intimidation was used in the process, and that the intent to deprive the victim of that property existed at the moment force was applied. Each of those elements must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and a defense built on challenging any one of them can be decisive.
The distinction between robbery and theft matters enormously in sentencing. A simple theft charge carries far less exposure than robbery, and if the prosecution cannot firmly establish the use of force or intimidation, the charge framework changes entirely. Florida courts have wrestled for decades with what constitutes sufficient “intimidation,” and there is genuine legal ambiguity in many cases involving disputed victim accounts or conflicting witness testimony.
Armed robbery under Florida Statute 812.13(2)(a) is a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison when a firearm is used. Carjacking with a weapon, home invasion robbery, and strong-arm robbery each carry distinct sentencing consequences under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code. Understanding exactly which statute applies to a particular set of facts is the first critical decision point in building any defense strategy.
How Sentencing Guidelines Apply to Robbery Charges in Broward County
Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code scores every felony offense using a point system that calculates a minimum recommended sentence based on the offense level, the defendant’s prior record, and aggravating circumstances. Robbery scores at offense level 7 as a baseline, which already generates enough points to push the recommended minimum sentence into prison territory for most defendants. Add a weapon, a prior record, or victim injuries, and the scoresheet minimum can exceed a decade before a judge exercises any discretion.
One aspect of Florida robbery sentencing that surprises many people is the 10-20-Life law. Under Florida Statute 775.087, any felony in which a firearm is possessed during the commission of the offense triggers a mandatory minimum of ten years. If the firearm is discharged, that minimum becomes twenty years. These mandatory minimums remove sentencing discretion from judges entirely, which is why the factual question of whether a firearm was actually possessed or displayed can be the difference between a negotiated resolution and a decade-long mandatory sentence.
Prosecutors in the 17th Circuit also have the option of pursuing robbery charges as part of pattern-of-conduct allegations, particularly in cases involving multiple incidents along commercial corridors like Andrews Avenue, Sunrise Boulevard, or Federal Highway. Cases that might otherwise resolve at the lower end of the guidelines can be escalated when prosecutors frame them as part of a series. Recognizing that pattern early and challenging it procedurally is work that has to begin immediately after charges are filed.
The Evidence Landscape in Robbery Prosecutions and Where Defenses Emerge
Surveillance camera footage from Broward County commercial properties, gas stations along I-95 service roads, and retail centers near Sawgrass Mills or Las Olas Boulevard has become the cornerstone of robbery prosecutions in South Florida. Prosecutors often treat this footage as definitive, but video evidence is rarely as clean as it appears. Lighting conditions, camera angles, compression artifacts, and chain-of-custody issues with digital files all create legitimate grounds for challenging what the prosecution claims the footage proves.
Eyewitness identification is another area where defense counsel must press hard. Decades of research have documented the unreliability of cross-racial identifications, identifications made under stress, and identifications influenced by suggestive lineup procedures. Florida courts have gradually adopted more scrutiny of eyewitness evidence, and a defense attorney who understands the science and the applicable case law can challenge identification evidence in ways that genuinely shift the outcome.
At The Baez Law Firm, the approach to evidence is not passive. Rather than accepting the prosecution’s forensic conclusions, the firm conducts independent analysis. DNA, fingerprint comparisons, and digital forensics are examined by the defense team directly, using the same technological capacity that has produced results in cases as complex as the Ohio murder acquittal involving 25 counts and the federal tax fraud acquittals in Louisiana. That same rigor applies to a robbery case in Fort Lauderdale where the evidence looks straightforward on the surface but contains vulnerabilities the prosecution is counting on defense counsel to miss.
Critical Decision Points Between Arrest and Trial
The first hearing after a robbery arrest in Broward County is the First Appearance, which must occur within twenty-four hours. This is where the judge sets bond, and it is also the first moment where having experienced counsel can materially affect what happens next. Robbery charges routinely produce high bond amounts or pretrial detention orders, and an attorney who can argue effectively at this stage can mean the difference between a client who participates in building their own defense and one who negotiates from a jail cell under mounting pressure.
Discovery is a process most defendants do not fully appreciate until they are inside it. Florida’s criminal discovery rules are among the most expansive in the country, requiring the prosecution to disclose witness lists, prior statements, and evidence they intend to use at trial. Working through that material systematically, identifying what has not been disclosed, and filing the appropriate motions to compel or suppress is detailed legal work that shapes what the jury will ultimately see and hear.
The plea negotiation phase is where most cases in the 17th Circuit ultimately resolve, but accepting a plea without first preparing rigorously for trial is a serious strategic error. Prosecutors negotiate from their perception of your attorney’s willingness and ability to win at trial. Jose Baez’s track record, including the Casey Anthony acquittal and the reversal of a life sentence for a client in Massachusetts, is not irrelevant background. It is a signal to every prosecutor across the table about what this firm is prepared to do if negotiations fail.
Common Questions About Robbery Charges in Broward County
What is the difference between robbery and theft under Florida law?
Theft under Florida Statute 812.014 involves taking property without the owner’s consent and with intent to deprive. Robbery requires that same taking but adds the element of force, violence, assault, or intimidation directed at a person. This distinction is not just semantic. Theft is a property crime; robbery is classified as a violent felony and scored significantly higher under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code, producing longer recommended sentences and greater collateral consequences.
Can a robbery charge be reduced to a lesser offense?
Yes. Depending on the facts, a robbery charge may be reduced to theft, battery, or in some cases a misdemeanor, through pretrial negotiations or after a suppression hearing that weakens the prosecution’s case. Whether a reduction is obtainable depends heavily on the specific evidence, the victim’s cooperation with the prosecution, and the strength of the defense position built before any offer is made.
Does Florida’s Stand Your Ground law have any application in robbery cases?
It can. Under Florida Statute 776.012, a person who reasonably believes they face imminent death or great bodily harm has no duty to retreat before using or threatening to use force. In cases where the defendant responded to an attempted robbery or confrontation, Stand Your Ground may provide a complete defense or grounds for an immunity hearing before trial. This is a highly fact-specific analysis that requires careful legal evaluation.
What happens if a robbery charge involves a juvenile defendant in Broward County?
Broward County’s juvenile court handles many robbery cases involving defendants under eighteen, but Florida law permits prosecutors to directly file robbery charges against juveniles in adult court when the crime is alleged to involve a weapon or when the juvenile has a prior record. Adult prosecution of a minor triggers adult sentencing exposure, including mandatory minimums under the 10-20-Life statute, making the charging decision itself one of the most important battles in a juvenile robbery case.
How does the prosecution typically build a robbery case without physical evidence?
Victim testimony and eyewitness accounts carry most robbery prosecutions that lack physical evidence. Phone location data extracted from cell records, social media posts, and financial transaction records are increasingly used to place defendants near crime scenes. Prosecutors also rely on co-defendant testimony, which is often offered in exchange for reduced charges, creating inherent credibility issues that experienced defense counsel can develop effectively before a jury.
Are there robbery-specific diversion programs available in Broward County?
Broward County’s drug court and other diversion programs generally do not extend to robbery charges, which are classified as violent felonies. However, first-time offenders facing robbery charges without aggravating factors may have options for negotiated resolutions that avoid trial and reduce long-term collateral consequences. These outcomes require early, strategic advocacy rather than last-minute negotiation.
Representing Clients Across Broward County and the Surrounding Region
The Baez Law Firm represents clients throughout Broward County and the broader South Florida region, including in Fort Lauderdale’s urban core neighborhoods like Flagami and Riverside, as well as in Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Coral Springs, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, and Davie. The firm’s reach extends south through Miami-Dade and north toward Palm Beach County, giving clients access to attorneys who are familiar with the prosecutors, judges, and procedural norms across multiple circuits. Whether a case arises from an incident near the Port Everglades waterfront, along the State Road 7 commercial strip, or in the residential areas west of I-95, the firm’s attorneys understand how cases move through the courts that will decide them.
Speak With a Fort Lauderdale Robbery Defense Attorney Before the Prosecution Builds Its Case
Many people hesitate to hire an attorney immediately after a robbery arrest because they believe the cost is not justified unless the case goes to trial, or because they assume the evidence against them is too strong to challenge. Both assumptions are costly. The decisions made in the first days after an arrest, from what is said to law enforcement to how the bond hearing is handled, shape every stage that follows. The prosecution begins building its case from the moment of arrest, and a defense that starts late rarely catches up. The Baez Law Firm has represented clients in Broward County courts and in federal courtrooms across the country, obtaining results in cases where the evidence looked overwhelming before it was actually examined. If you are facing a robbery charge in the Fort Lauderdale area, reach out to our team directly to discuss what a real defense looks like for your specific situation. A Fort Lauderdale robbery attorney from our firm is prepared to evaluate your case, challenge the evidence, and handle the 17th Circuit’s procedures with the level of preparation that serious charges require.
