Lottery winner is arrested for failing to appear

Apr 14, 2006, 7:03 am (9 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

Winning the lottery proved to be unlucky for a Craven County, North Carolina, man.

Publicity over the $10,000 prize Henry Wooten Jr. won earlier this week netted a visit from Craven County Sheriff's deputies.

But they weren't looking for a loan. They were looking to arrest him.

Thomas Bersch, with the Craven County Sheriff's office, said Wooten, 20, was wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in court for larceny, and breaking and entering.

Bersch said authorities were given information that led them to believe Wooten was in Washington, N.C. However, when they saw a story on Wooten winning the lottery in Wednesday's Sun Journal, they renewed their efforts to arrest him.

Bersch said he arrived Wednesday to arrest Wooten, who then tried to run away.

"He saw me and he took off running," Bersch said. "He didn't want to go back to jail."

Bersch caught up to Wooten and took him to the Craven County Jail. He was released on a $20,000 bond.

Wooten told the Sun Journal that he was going to save the money from his winnings to buy a house or a truck.

Instead, he used it for another reason, according to Bersch.

"He used some of his lottery money to make bail," he said.

Orginal News Story
Lottery Post presents the original news story, published in the New Bern Sun Journal.

Vanceboro man hits lottery for $10,000 

And the winner is ... Henry Wooten Jr.

The 20-year-old West Craven Mobile Home Park resident won $10,000 in the $5 Carolina Cash scratch ticket game.

According to the N.C. Education Lottery, he is the first big winner from Craven County.

For those who might want to hit on Wooten for a loan, the money is already in the bank.

"My friends know I don't give money away or anything like that," he said.

Wooten, who works at Bosch in New Bern, said he has not spent a dime of the money. No clothes. No fancy trips. No fast cars.

"I'm saving it for a house or truck," he said.

He said he couldn't believe his eyes when he bought only one ticket from Mills County Store last week and scratched it off.

"I examined it and examined it and re-examined it," he said.

He said there was no celebration or big bash. He simply traveled to the Greenville regional lottery office, passed the ticket to a clerk, and in minutes, had his check.

The former West Craven High School football player said taxes were taken out of the original $10,000, but he would not say what the final amount was.

"It has not changed me one bit," Wooten said. "I still go to work, have my same friends and do my usual thing."

At that moment, Wooten's mother yelled out. "He's going to continue to work. I'll tell you that," she said.

He said he had not decided if he would become a regular player of the lottery.

"When the notion hits me (to play again), maybe I will," he said. "A body isn't that lucky all the time."

Wooten is one of the highest lottery winners in the eastern part of the state reported so far. A Wilson man won $100,000 in a scratch-off game.

New Bern Sun Journal

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Comments

Uncle Jim

This guy went backwards!  He won $10 grand and it cost him $20 grand to bond out!  The ink isn't even dry on the check and he's upside down.  What I don't get is how did he get out of the lottery office.  Didn't they do a security check when he presented his claim?

Jim 

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

you raise a valid point Uncle Jim.

Since the guy hasnt been found guilty yet but instead is being *charged*, its upto  the judge and the current laws to decide. Its less then wise to evade a warrant, that part is very clear cut.

 

LckyLary

He used SOME OF his winnings to post bond. Maybe he got the "10% option" ($2000) anyway, after taxes he really won about $6000 or so. What fast car would he have bought for that? And he is accused of larceny.... are they saying he stole the ticket?

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

 "He's going to continue to work. I'll tell you that," she said.

I think he forgot to count the amount of zeros when he won. Perhaps his mother was referring to his brain. (hey, without Chewie around somebody has to say it!)

I guess he couldn't avoid the news, but this reminds me of one of those Darwin awards like the true story about the man who held up the window where you pay at a McDonalds drive-thru without realizing there was a car at the pickup window in front of him and another in back of him ordering at the speaker. Gave the cops plenty of time. Hope he enjoyed his fries.

"after taxes he really won about $6000 or so. What fast car would he have bought for that?"-  LckyLary

I don't want to sound snobby (I'm much too poor to be a snob) but I have neighbors with 5 cars that don't add up to 1/2 of that.  Fast usually means it can make it to 7-11 for a beer run.

All jokes aside, the first article says he's employed in NC. They couldn't have been looking too hard. It says he works at Bosch which is a big appliance and tool company. Maybe he hid his prize in a washing machine and is being arrested for money laundering.

Kidzmom's avatarKidzmom

LOLLOL  BaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaa!!  is all I have to say......

GVILLE's avatarGVILLE

 "He's going to continue to work. I'll tell you that," she said.

I think he forgot to count the amount of zeros when he won. Perhaps his mother was referring to his brain. (hey, without Chewie around somebody has to say it!)

I guess he couldn't avoid the news, but this reminds me of one of those Darwin awards like the true story about the man who held up the window where you pay at a McDonalds drive-thru without realizing there was a car at the pickup window in front of him and another in back of him ordering at the speaker. Gave the cops plenty of time. Hope he enjoyed his fries.

"after taxes he really won about $6000 or so. What fast car would he have bought for that?"-  LckyLary

I don't want to sound snobby (I'm much too poor to be a snob) but I have neighbors with 5 cars that don't add up to 1/2 of that.  Fast usually means it can make it to 7-11 for a beer run.

All jokes aside, the first article says he's employed in NC. They couldn't have been looking too hard. It says he works at Bosch which is a big appliance and tool company. Maybe he hid his prize in a washing machine and is being arrested for money laundering.

Where is Chewie any?

GVILLE's avatarGVILLE

ANYWAY?

bellyache's avatarbellyache

At that moment, Wooten's mother yelled out. "He's going to continue to work. I'll tell you that," she said.

Of course the guys going to have to continuing working. He wasn't set for life. lol.

CASH Only

At that moment, Wooten's mother yelled out. "He's going to continue to work. I'll tell you that," she said.

Of course the guys going to have to continuing working. He wasn't set for life. lol.

Don't say "set for life"! There are annuity-only scratch games with that name.

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