A convicted sex offender won a multi-million dollar jackpot from the Florida Lottery over the past weekend.
Timothy Poole, 43, of Mount Dora, Florida won $3 million from a scratch-off ticket he purchased at a 7-Eleven over the weekend. Poole, who currently works as a cab driver for his mother's taxi company, was arrested in 1999 after allegedly sexually battering a 9-year-old boy.
Poole denied the allegations and went to jail for 13 months. Poole was sent to prison in 2003 again after not attending four of his sex offender counseling sessions. Poole has had no run ins with the law since his release in 2006.
Poole claimed his winnings this week in a lump sum payment that totals $2,219,807.90. A Florida Lottery spokesperson said that payments are not withheld based on a winner's criminal background. However, if a lottery winner does owe money to a state agency, such as child support, then it can be withheld.
Timothy Poole, 43, of Mount Dora, Florida won $3 million from a scratch-off ticket he purchased at a 7-Eleven over the weekend. Poole, who currently works as a cab driver for his mother's taxi company, was arrested in 1999 after allegedly sexually battering a 9-year-old boy.
Poole denied the allegations and went to jail for 13 months. Poole was sent to prison in 2003 again after not attending four of his sex offender counseling sessions. Poole has had no run ins with the law since his release in 2006.
Poole claimed his winnings this week in a lump sum payment that totals $2,219,807.90. A Florida Lottery spokesperson said that payments are not withheld based on a winner's criminal background. However, if a lottery winner does owe money to a state agency, such as child support, then it can be withheld.
All that money and he still won't be free. I hope they have his pics up at each and every candy store, playground. and public school in the area.
PR
He says that he is "not guilty". I know that he went to prison for 13 months, but how do we know his guilt or innocence? People are on death row who are later proven to be innocent. The State of Florida cannot (and should not) withhold funds from lottery winners unless those lottery winners owe taxes, Welfare, Child Support, etc. If they did so, they would be opening themselves up to a lawsuit, and rightfully so. Perhaps, the child (or his family) can take their case to Civil Court; however, since the man has "paid his debt to society", that may not go anywhere.
ReplyDeleteBTW---publishing his picture in "every candy store, playground and public school in the area" may be grounds for harassment.
ReplyDelete