Fred Topous, the Kent City man who just won $57 million in the Mega Millions lottery, is a registered sex offender with a criminal past.
A co-worker describes Topous as a man who turned his life around and would do anything for a friend.
Topous, 45, previously served time for larceny in Grand Traverse County. He's also been imprisoned on a weapons offense, unlawfully driving away in a vehicle, and forced-entry burglary. The burglary charge is from the 1980s.
He's also on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for committing a criminal sexual assault with the intent to commit penetration. He registered in 1999, and is compliant.
24 Hour News 8 spoke with Joshua Hoch, who works with Topous at Structural Standards in Sparta. He said Topous is a family man who turned his life around after getting out of prison two years ago. He said everyone has their dirty secrets, only Topous' went public when he won the lottery.
Hoch said Topous should be left alone to enjoy his good fortune. "I didn't think its right for it to come out like this. Fred's a great guy. He doesn't need to be portrayed as a criminal. Everyone gets a second chance."
He described Topous as a hard worker who's always willing to do something extra to help out, a stand-up guy who'd give a friend the shirt off his back. Topous, Hoch said, is active in his church and has paid his debt to society for the mistakes he previously made.
"I think the truth needs to be told," he said. "He's not the bad person he's been made out to be. He deserves everything he got, and congratulations to you, Fred."
Topous claimed the Mega Millions jackpot prize on Tuesday and elected to take the $34 million lump sum payment.
He said he didn't know he had won until he stopped at Party World in Comstock Park on Monday to check the numbers.
Topous said he and his wife have worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, and now they plan on enjoying life a little bit.
This isn't the first time a winning lottery ticket has been sold at the store. A millionaire raffle ticket was bought there late last year.
The Michigan State Lottery said the only people who cannot play the lottery are those under 18 years of age, and those who work for the lottery.
I wish this guy well. I hope his neighbors treat him accordingly. He should take the windfall as confirmation (from a higher power) that he is on the correct life path.
Sorry, but I can't wish him well. As the victim myself of a sexual assault, the idea that my former assaulter could win millions of dollars and have the kind of life that I could never dream of and likely will never have makes me positively vomitous. I'm not saying that everyone who wins the lottery needs to be a saint, but there are some people that just shouldn't win it; it just doesn't seem fair (in a karmic sense) in the grand scheme of things.
Quote: Originally posted by CaliWinner on Jun 20, 2008
Sorry, but I can't wish him well. As the victim myself of a sexual assault, the idea that my former assaulter could win millions of dollars and have the kind of life that I could never dream of and likely will never have makes me positively vomitous. I'm not saying that everyone who wins the lottery needs to be a saint, but there are some people that just shouldn't win it; it just doesn't seem fair (in a karmic sense) in the grand scheme of things.
I feel the same way. Seems like lately most of the people who have won or are winning have been in trouble with the law, one way or another. I haven't won yet either but I will soon. Our day is coming.
If anyone hasn't seen the topic about this in Lottery Discussion here's a link with a little more info on his history as well as his not having to pay the state back.
Having looked up this guy in the MDOC database and all three cases were pleas so he was actually facing more serious charges than what he was convicted of, as I've mentioned in other topics..
I love stories like this cause it just shows you that anyone can win the lottery, even if you lied,stole,commited arson, grand theft, sex crime, were fired from job, are laying in the hospitol and your sister got you the ticket, you are a lawyer, a priest, a sinner or saint, truth be told God does not involve himself in randomness. Randomness is a human idea. With God nothing is random! Like "Time" this is a human idea, there is no TIME where God is. Time doesn't exist niether does randomness.
If you have a ticket you might be the next to win! Its as easy as that.
Dont think you cant win because you think you're not good enough or if you think you're too good YOU TOO CAN WIN, And Dont think too much about things like this, you'lle only hurt your head thinking about it! The guy won because he bought a ticket! Its not about how good or bad you are! Its about HE BOUGHT A TICKET! period!
I sincerely wish this man the best. Many people make big mistakes in their lives, and alot can turn their lives back around. Many commit crimes who come from poverty-ridden areas. I hope this is the blessing this man needed to get his life together. I know as a felon that he most likely wasn't making much money anywhere working for minimum wage, so amen! Good luck winner!
Oh, and he definitely should NOT have to repay the state for his visit to prison.
If anyone hasn't seen the topic about this in Lottery Discussion here's a link with a little more info on his history as well as his not having to pay the state back.
Having looked up this guy in the MDOC database and all three cases were pleas so he was actually facing more serious charges than what he was convicted of, as I've mentioned in other topics..
MABY Todd:
Will bring my RESPONCE ........................BACK????????? I ment no HARM!!!!!!!!
Quote: Originally posted by manofmany on Jun 20, 2008
I sincerely wish this man the best. Many people make big mistakes in their lives, and alot can turn their lives back around. Many commit crimes who come from poverty-ridden areas. I hope this is the blessing this man needed to get his life together. I know as a felon that he most likely wasn't making much money anywhere working for minimum wage, so amen! Good luck winner!
Oh, and he definitely should NOT have to repay the state for his visit to prison.
What does poverty have to do with his crime involving a 13 year old girl that was pleaded down? Despite the girl apparently saying it was consentual and the fact that alcohol might have been involved, that's still ****ed up in this day and age. It wasn't like he was 17 either, he was 35 or 36, don't feel like looking up the dates to make sure. Granted I'm not going to put this guy in the same boat as someone like Daniel Snay who has a long history of child abuse but he's still a creep, even if alcohol was involved and he was also drunk and not just this girl or even if she was sober and he was drunk. Alcohol might make you stupid but if it makes you that stupid then I think you might have been ****ed in the head in the first place. Granted part of the reason why prosecution probably allowed him to plea was likely because outside of a "he said, she said" argument they didn't have strong enough evidence to convict him of something higher but he clearly isn't totally innocent either. I wouldn't be shocked if this wasn't the last we hear of him, years of stupidity that lead to him being in prison for most of the last two decades isn't just going to go away now that he has a lot of money. It just opens more doors for that stupidity. But maybe, just maybe he'll do things right and we'll never hear from him again, we'll see.....
Time is more than just a man made idea, it's a lot more than that. I was going to write a somewhat long post on it but instead I'll just be lazy since I'm in a bit of a hurry and post a link to the Wiki article.
Quote: Originally posted by kamvick on Jun 20, 2008
I feel the same way. Seems like lately most of the people who have won or are winning have been in trouble with the law, one way or another. I haven't won yet either but I will soon. Our day is coming.
Go get several speeding tickets and dont pay the fines, then you'll have a warrent out for your arrest go to jail for 30 days or so pay your debt to society, once you get out then you play ten dollars on qp your chances will go up..... now you'll have your day....... just kidding..... keep playing and your day will come after another criminal win first.
I'm waiting to see stories that start "Lottery winner is a traffic offender with a leadfoot past" or "Lottery winner is extra flatulent; everyone hurries past"
The lottery is not about some (mostly self-perceived) "goodness" as a person. Want to be rewarded for your "goodness", go to church ... or court.
The money will hopefully keep him from committing any more crimes.
I don't believe Karma is anything more than a person's bad habits eventually destroying them. Sometimes the bad guys win and the good guys lose. This MIGHT be a case of bad guys winning.
I don't know the circumstances of his sexual assault charge but to receive such a conviction usually requires a significant violation. It was almost 10 years ago. For the sake of society and his family and friends I truly hope he maintains the straight and narrow.
Every time I read stories like this I feel good about the lottery, especially in a karmic since. I feel that people like this don't "deserve to win." But then its my my opinion. But the good news is...
IF THEY CAN WIN SO CAN I. SO CAN ANY OF US. YEAH! I don't have to be a saint or a perfect person. God does not BLESS us with lottery winnings, its random and destiny of the people. It was his destiny to be a criminal and his destiny to win the lottery. It may be his destiny to get shot in the head or die from cancer or turn back to his old ways like David Edwards and lose it all who knows?
But we all have a chance at winning the lottery, and this guy and others like him prove it.
Leave the guy alone. Like it says, he turned his life around. Yeah, he did some things (IN THE PAST), and he now has the chance to help others (Hopefully)! I wish him good luck and God bless!!! WHo knows, I could be the next winner, which would sure be nice.
Topous claimed the Mega Millions jackpot prize on Tuesday and elected to take the $34 million lump sum payment.
I wish this guy well. I hope his neighbors treat him accordingly. He should take the windfall as confirmation (from a higher power) that he is on the correct life path.
Sorry, but I can't wish him well. As the victim myself of a sexual assault, the idea that my former assaulter could win millions of dollars and have the kind of life that I could never dream of and likely will never have makes me positively vomitous. I'm not saying that everyone who wins the lottery needs to be a saint, but there are some people that just shouldn't win it; it just doesn't seem fair (in a karmic sense) in the grand scheme of things.
I feel the same way. Seems like lately most of the people who have won or are winning have been in trouble with the law, one way or another. I haven't won yet either but I will soon. Our day is coming.
If anyone hasn't seen the topic about this in Lottery Discussion here's a link with a little more info on his history as well as his not having to pay the state back.
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/06/mega_millions_winner_does_not.html
Having looked up this guy in the MDOC database and all three cases were pleas so he was actually facing more serious charges than what he was convicted of, as I've mentioned in other topics..
I love stories like this cause it just shows you that anyone can win the lottery, even if you lied,stole,commited arson, grand theft, sex crime, were fired from job, are laying in the hospitol and your sister got you the ticket, you are a lawyer, a priest, a sinner or saint, truth be told God does not involve himself in randomness. Randomness is a human idea. With God nothing is random! Like "Time" this is a human idea, there is no TIME where God is. Time doesn't exist niether does randomness.
If you have a ticket you might be the next to win! Its as easy as that.
Dont think you cant win because you think you're not good enough or if you think you're too good YOU TOO CAN WIN, And Dont think too much about things like this, you'lle only hurt your head thinking about it! The guy won because he bought a ticket! Its not about how good or bad you are! Its about HE BOUGHT A TICKET! period!
GOD doesnt play the lottery People Do!
I sincerely wish this man the best. Many people make big mistakes in their lives, and alot can turn their lives back around. Many commit crimes who come from poverty-ridden areas. I hope this is the blessing this man needed to get his life together. I know as a felon that he most likely wasn't making much money anywhere working for minimum wage, so amen! Good luck winner!
Oh, and he definitely should NOT have to repay the state for his visit to prison.
MABY Todd:
Will bring my RESPONCE ........................BACK????????? I ment no HARM!!!!!!!!
LOL
PSYKOMO
What does poverty have to do with his crime involving a 13 year old girl that was pleaded down? Despite the girl apparently saying it was consentual and the fact that alcohol might have been involved, that's still ****ed up in this day and age. It wasn't like he was 17 either, he was 35 or 36, don't feel like looking up the dates to make sure. Granted I'm not going to put this guy in the same boat as someone like Daniel Snay who has a long history of child abuse but he's still a creep, even if alcohol was involved and he was also drunk and not just this girl or even if she was sober and he was drunk. Alcohol might make you stupid but if it makes you that stupid then I think you might have been ****ed in the head in the first place. Granted part of the reason why prosecution probably allowed him to plea was likely because outside of a "he said, she said" argument they didn't have strong enough evidence to convict him of something higher but he clearly isn't totally innocent either. I wouldn't be shocked if this wasn't the last we hear of him, years of stupidity that lead to him being in prison for most of the last two decades isn't just going to go away now that he has a lot of money. It just opens more doors for that stupidity. But maybe, just maybe he'll do things right and we'll never hear from him again, we'll see.....
Time is more than just a man made idea, it's a lot more than that. I was going to write a somewhat long post on it but instead I'll just be lazy since I'm in a bit of a hurry and post a link to the Wiki article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time
What'd you say? If you can't repeat it just PM me. I saw your post in the Lottery Discussion topic but I must have missed it here.
Go get several speeding tickets and dont pay the fines, then you'll have a warrent out for your arrest go to jail for 30 days or so pay your debt to society, once you get out then you play ten dollars on qp your chances will go up..... now you'll have your day....... just kidding..... keep playing and your day will come after another criminal win first.
I'm waiting to see stories that start "Lottery winner is a traffic offender with a leadfoot past" or "Lottery winner is extra flatulent; everyone hurries past"
The money will hopefully keep him from committing any more crimes.
I don't believe Karma is anything more than a person's bad habits eventually destroying them. Sometimes the bad guys win and the good guys lose. This MIGHT be a case of bad guys winning.
I don't know the circumstances of his sexual assault charge but to receive such a conviction usually requires a significant violation. It was almost 10 years ago. For the sake of society and his family and friends I truly hope he maintains the straight and narrow.
Every time I read stories like this I feel good about the lottery, especially in a karmic since. I feel that people like this don't "deserve to win." But then its my my opinion. But the good news is...
IF THEY CAN WIN SO CAN I. SO CAN ANY OF US. YEAH! I don't have to be a saint or a perfect person. God does not BLESS us with lottery winnings, its random and destiny of the people. It was his destiny to be a criminal and his destiny to win the lottery. It may be his destiny to get shot in the head or die from cancer or turn back to his old ways like David Edwards and lose it all who knows?
But we all have a chance at winning the lottery, and this guy and others like him prove it.
Good luck to all.
Leave the guy alone. Like it says, he turned his life around. Yeah, he did some things (IN THE PAST), and he now has the chance to help others (Hopefully)! I wish him good luck and God bless!!! WHo knows, I could be the next winner, which would sure be nice.