AVENTURA, FLA. (WSVN) - - Police have released surveillance video of what, they say, shows a Broward prosecutor shoplifting at a Publix in Aventura.
Stacey Honowitz, a veteran lawyer with more than 30 years of experience, is now awaiting a court appearance of a different kind, as she faces a misdemeanor theft charge for Saturday afternoon’s incident.
Aventura Police officers were called to the supermarket, located at 18995 Biscayne Blvd., after the staff at the store claimed to have caught Honowitz shoplifting.
According to officials, the footage shows Honowitz putting about $40 worth of cosmetic products into her purse as she was shopping for groceries.
Other shoppers in the surveillance video footage had their faces blurred because, police said, they were not involved in the alleged crime.
The arrest report stated she had about $125 worth of groceries legitimately in her shopping cart. Employees, however, found the beauty supplies in her purse.
The prosecutor was approached after she exited the store.
She was not arrested but given a promise to appear notice, standard for people with a clean record.
Honowitz’s attorney released a statement that said she had every intention of paying for the items, but did not realize they were in her purse.
“She inadvertently did not pay for the cosmetics when she checked out and paid for her 130 dollars in groceries. She did not even leave the store after she paid,” noted her attorney. “She then purchased lottery tickets and was chatting with another customer. There was no intent to commit a crime at all. Moreover, it was a Saturday afternoon outing with her daughter and parents.”
The veteran prosecutor had been working in the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes department of the State Attorney’s office for years. She has been suspended pending an outcome to the investigation.
Honowitz was charged with shoplifting.
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