Yikes, he's creepy.

Luckily that woman reported that her notebook and the scratch-off were stolen or this guy may have got away with cashing in the ticket. 

Mighty careless of them to leave without the Winning Ticket/Notebook, considering the Ticket was worth $50,000!

I'm with you Raven62, who in their right mind would stop to have a meal before heading to the lottery headquarters.  I would have made a quick stop at Micky D's if the kid was hungry!!!  OH, if only I was so lucky!!!!!!!!!

What kind of idiot leaves a notebook containing $50,000 on a table in a diner, because that's exactly what it would be. I know that if I had won 50K on a scratch card, I'd be keepin it on my person at all times. Most likely down my pants.

Umm HOW did he know they had the winning ticket?? Someone bragged?

how is he being accused of aggravated theft?

she left it behind.losers weepers, finders keepers.

unless she signed it. he who has it owns it.

The guy probably just looked inside the notebook when he found it, hoping it contained something of value... which it did.

I guarantee that ANYBODY finding a notebook on a table like that would look inside -- even if to find out who it belongs to.

I agree with those who are thunderstruck by the fact that the winning ticket was placed inside a notebook to start with.  People just do dumb things sometimes.  The ticket should have been deep within a front pants pocket.  If it doesn't fit, fold it.  But to stick it in a notebook? 

Well, she did report the notebook stolen and the ticket stolen. That doesn't constitute "finders keepers, loser weepers" and the authorities must have agreed.

 I agree, Raven! 

"Yikes, he's creepy"

Scary, people never look too pretty when they get their mug shots taken!  LOL   

 "The victim reported that on December 26th she was dining with her son at the Denny's Restaurant located at 987 Kruse Way in Springfield. The victim stopped for lunch before driving to Oregon Lottery Headquarters in Salem to claim her prize on a winning $50,000 'Green & Gold' scratch-it ticket she had purchased two days earlier at a Stanfield, Oregon truck stop."

As others have already written, I just don't understand why someone who knows she has a winning ticket worth $50,000 would stick it in a notebook. 

Did the notebook have her name in it?  If she left an unsigned ticket on a counter or table, doesn't it belong to the person who is the "instrument bearer?"  Is there anything to indicate he actually stole the notebook? 

"Upon finishing their meal the victim and her son left without the notebook and returned about fifteen minutes later to retrieve it, but the table had been cleared and the notebook was gone."

This does seem to indicate that he found it and didn't turn it in, since he worked at the restaurant, but is that the same as stealing? It is to me and it might be immoral, but I wonder how many people find things they don't report. This just happens to be worth $50,000 (less taxes)  If I found an unsigned ticket in a public bathroom and it turned out to be a $50,000 winner, I would be completely honest when I got to Lottery Headquarters. However, I would still consider it to be mine if it wasn't signed.

The investigation determined suspect Dizick contacted the man and asked that he go to lottery headquarters with him to claim the prize because Dizick told the man he owed back taxes and child support."

He sounds like a creep, but putting him in jail for 10 years or fining him an amount he will never be able to pay isn't going to help his children.  He should be allowed to work and his wages garnished, but what good does sticking him in a cell while we foot the bill do for society?