Convicted Sex Offender Wins $3 Million In Florida Lottery
A convicted sex offender from Mount Dora, Florida, won $3 million over the weekend on a scratch-off lottery ticket, and is set to collect a one-time lump sum of $2,219,807.90.
According to the Daily Mail, Timothy Poole, a driver and dispatcher for Triangle Cab, a company owned by his mother, bought the winning Super Millions lottery ticket at a 7-11 over the weekend. Poole was previously arrested in 1999 over allegations that he sexually molested a 9-year-old boy. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Poole was a friend of the victim’s family, and lived in their home at one time.
WKMG reports that Poole denied the allegations, but pled guilty to attempted sexual battery as part of a plea bargain. He was sentenced to the 13 months he had already served in jail, as well as 10 years of sex offender probation. Poole was also required to register as a sexual predator, which can be required in cases of force or when a victim is a child.
In 2003, Poole was kicked out of his mandatory sex offender counseling after missing four group sessions. A judge revoked his probation, sending him to prison for three years. Since his release in 2006, Poole has had no other legal troubles, and maintains his innocence.
“It may be hard for some to believe, but sometimes people are wrongly accused,” he said.
A convicted sex predator is Florida’s newest multi-millionaire! See my original local report at 11pm #Local6 pic.twitter.com/uSf86i9CE3
— Mike DeForest (@DeForestLocal6) December 10, 2014
Poole turned in his winning lottery ticket at the Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee on Monday. According to his friend Floyd Snyder, who was with him when he bought the ticket, Poole was stunned when he realized he had won.
“It was quite a remarkable thing. My heart is still beating,” he said.
Snyder also asserted that Poole should enjoy his lottery winnings, casting doubt on the allegations against his friend.
“I’ve known him for years and I’ve never seen any inclination of anything like that with him,” he said.
“He’s a very positive person. Very kind. Giving. I think that’s why he won. It’s Christmastime and the dude deserves a break.”
Recently, the Powerball lottery jackpot was claimed by a woman from Auburn, Washington. Astonishingly, as the Inquisitr previously reported, the winning lottery ticket that garnered her $90 million was the first she had ever purchased.
Though officials conduct background checks on lottery winners to ensure they do not owe child support or debts to a state agency, it is not illegal in Florida for convicted sex offenders to play or win the lottery.
[Image: Florida Lottery via the Daily Mail]
