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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Lottery winner must pay for court-appointed attorney Insider Buzz: Lottery winner must pay for court-appointed attorney51 Rating:$1 million lottery winner faces meth charges There was only one problem with Megan Gatlin's using a court-appointed attorney in her upcoming criminal trial: She's a lottery winner. The 28-year-old Vancouver woman won $1 million this spring in the Oregon Lottery's St. Patrick's Day Raffle. So when she appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court to face charges of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and third-degree theft, her attorney questioned the appointment. Defense attorney John Peterson was appointed to represent Gatlin in May. Gatlin collected her winnings, which were estimated to be about $670,000 after taxes, in April. Peterson told Superior Court Judge Dan Stahnke he didn't think it was appropriate for the county to pick up the tab for Gatlin's defense, as she clearly wasn't indigent. Stahnke asked why a judge would appoint Peterson to the case in the first place. Apparently, Peterson said, the court didn't know Gatlin was a lottery winner. Gatlin explained that she had answered all of the questions the court official asked her when trying to determine eligibility for a court-appointed attorney. The court official asked about Gatlin's income and residency. Gatlin told the woman she was unemployed and lived with her mother. The court official never asked Gatlin how much money she had in the bank, Gatlin said. Gatlin told the judge Friday that she won $1 million in the lottery and had the money in her bank account. At that, Stahnke relieved the attorney of his indigent defense duties. Peterson will still represent Gatlin when she goes to trial in November — just not on the taxpayer's dime. After Peterson questioned the appointment, Gatlin hired the Vancouver lawyer to represent her.  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
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June 1, 2009
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| | Posted: September 5, 2011, 1:52 pm - IP Logged | |
I read in another article that court costs are expected to be roughly $669,995..... | | |
Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13102 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 2:02 pm - IP Logged | |
I read in another article that court costs are expected to be roughly $669,995..... Rotflmoa, live by the sword missy. | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 20635 Posts Online | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 2:04 pm - IP Logged | |
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United States Member #52818 May 21, 2007 1372 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 3:33 pm - IP Logged | |
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Brooklyn, NY United States Member #115873 August 29, 2011 39 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 5:03 pm - IP Logged | |
Easy come, easy go................ | | |
PA United States Member #66644 October 16, 2008 1280 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 7:06 pm - IP Logged | |
I am pretty sure when I win my name will be in the paper, but not for this kind of nonsense ! 
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Viva La Chance! Rockville, MD. United States Member #44542 July 30, 2006 4239 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 7:49 pm - IP Logged | |
Hmmm I'd get a different lawyer, he ratted her out straight out of the gate. Lawyer bad. Meth worse. | | |
Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13102 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 5, 2011, 8:31 pm - IP Logged | |
Hmmm I'd get a different lawyer, he ratted her out straight out of the gate. Lawyer bad. Meth worse. Good point, | | |
Delaware United States Member #93531 July 1, 2010 382 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 1:32 am - IP Logged | |
Is this the same woman that the mom was waiting for the Camero?... | | |
Gurnee, Illinois United States Member #50189 February 12, 2007 709 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 5:47 am - IP Logged | |
The problem with America illustrated clearly here...bet she bought those tats with her winnings. Nice way to spend. It is the entitlement attitude pervading this country that made her keep her mouth shut about having a lot of money in the bank even though she is "unemployed". She is unemployed because she DOES NOT have to work!!! Big difference from someone who is unemployed and wants or needs to work. She will be broke in no time flat from attorney expenses and drug problem. Even someone as rich as Warren Buffett would be broke if he/she were involved in drug use...especially something as destructive and addictive as meth, heroine, or cocaine. It is a shame that so many druggies and criminals win the lottery but that is life as it is a game of chance, not a game of merit. I guess that is why I hear so many make comments about good people winning. Get MONEY!!! Winning a JACKPOT lottery is all the HOPE and CHANGE I desire!!! NOW give me MONEY! | | |
Born in the USA United States Member #108031 March 19, 2011 46 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 10:07 am - IP Logged | |
I wish they had a photo of her smiling with teeth showing so we could fully determine if she was a heavy user or not. and maybe the money will help her quit! I know that I only smoke cigarettes when I'm working, but I don't light any when I'm home on the weekends! and if I wasnt stressed out about money at all, then I would theoretically quit cigarettes completely! Only God can judge so let's all pray she puts that money to good use! While the value of a dollar is substantial, hope is priceless. But if you ain't got a dollar, then it's hopeless. | | |
British Columbia Canada Member #116120 September 4, 2011 2429 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 10:15 am - IP Logged | |
like they say Crime doesn't pay "You have to be in it to win it!" | | |
New Jersey United States Member #77624 July 13, 2009 7805 Posts Offline | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 11:51 am - IP Logged | |
I wish they had a photo of her smiling with teeth showing so we could fully determine if she was a heavy user or not. and maybe the money will help her quit! I know that I only smoke cigarettes when I'm working, but I don't light any when I'm home on the weekends! and if I wasnt stressed out about money at all, then I would theoretically quit cigarettes completely! Only God can judge so let's all pray she puts that money to good use! I really hope she's not a meth head but from the look of this pic ..... If she's not, she's a very old looking 28 year old!!! 
Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping | | |
Cordova,Al. United States Member #104511 January 15, 2011 136 Posts Online | | Posted: September 6, 2011, 12:28 pm - IP Logged | |
if they don,t ask her how much money she in the bank she is such get a count appointed att; | | |
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