Is the money his or no?

[GraceAbounds]

Lottery ticket unlucky for winner

Bank robber faces hearing over whether he violated his probation terms


BOSTON - The winner of a $1 million lottery scratch ticket may not be so lucky after all: He's a convicted bank robber who isn't supposed to gamble.
Timothy Elliott faces a Dec. 7 court hearing over whether he violated his probation when he bought the $10 ticket for the $800 Million Spectacular game at a supermarket in Hyannis.
Elliott was placed on five years' probation after pleading guilty in October 2006 to unarmed robbery for a January 2006 heist at a bank on Cape Cod.
Under terms of his probation, he "may not gamble, purchase lottery tickets or visit an establishment where gaming is conducted, including restaurants where Keno may be played."
Elliott, 55, has collected the first of 20 annual $50,000 checks from the Massachusetts lottery commission. A picture of Elliott, holding his first check, was posted on the lottery's Web site Monday, though it was removed by Wednesday.
As part of his sentence, Elliott was put under the care of the state Mental Health Department and sent to a hospital for treatment, and state officials refused Wednesday to say whether he was still being treated.
A telephone number for Elliott could not immediately be located Wednesday, and it was not clear whether he had a lawyer.
The lottery routinely cross references the names of winners with the state Revenue Department to see if they owe back taxes or child support, lottery spokesman Dan Rosenfeld said. In those cases, winnings go straight to the Revenue Department.
But in this case, it will be up to the court to determine what will happen with Elliott's winnings.
"This is kind of new territory," he said.

Is the money his or no? What's your opinion?

 

[Boomer]

Nope! I think they should take the money and as a default, put it into the states educational system.

 

[dt3]

Hell no. He should know the terms of his own probation. Sucks to be him.

 

[AUDRAA]

what a fool why didnt he give it to someone to collect for him???

 

[Breath]

I thought the same, Audra. What an idiot. He should have known the terms of his probabtion. Give it to someone else to claim, someone he knew who'd take care of giving him a piece.

 

[AUDRAA]

its a million bucks even if he had to give half up jeeze what a dumbass!!!

 

[IntruderLS1]

I don't know... I can see why the state has a problem with it, but lottery isn't really considered to be gambling by most people. I doubt he knew he was breaking the law.

If he had otherwise kept himself out of trouble, I would let him keep it.

 

[sundvlfn88]

Now that is sure stupidity. He deserves to not have it if he is that stupid.

 

[NightWarrior]

Nobody said criminals were smart

 

[Peter Parka]

We had a case over here where a convicted kiddie fiddler played the lottery while on day release and won the jackpot. People were up in arms about it. I don't honestly see why though, he hadn't broke any rules and was allowed to keep it. I guess this case is different though if he was actually banned from gambling so I would say, no, he shouldn't be allowed to keep the winnings.

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

I think they should give it to charity.

No it does not belong to him, via the terms of his probation. Pretty cut and dry to me.