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Apr 6, 2004, 12:29 pm (4 comments)
A woman who claimed that she bought and lost a $162 million lottery ticket was found guilty Tuesday of filing a false police report. She was fined $1,000 and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Elecia Battle, 40, of Cleveland, reached an agreement with prosecutors that called her to plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge with the understanding that she would be found guilty. She could have gotten six months in jail.
Shortly after a Dec. 30 lottery drawing, Battle filed a police report saying she had bought the winning ticket but lost it. A few days later, another woman produced the winning ticket and claimed the jackpot.
Battle sued to block payment but later dropped her lawsuit and tearfully apologized, all but admitting she made up her hard-luck story.
She pleaded no contest on Jan. 15 and was found guilty, then withdrew her plea on Feb. 12.
The case has been bad luck for a city already going through hard times financially.
The city of 24,000 people missed out on $1.4 million in expected income taxes on the jackpot because South Euclid never updated its charter so it could tax lottery winnings. Then, it had to pay thousands to investigate the case, guard the real winner's home and secure City Hall.
AP
With 50 hours and a $1000, she could have wheel all 52 numbers, made out the tickets, played them and maybe won some big money. She still got off light for the scam she tried to pull.
RJOh
The should have stuck it to her instead of the ol' slap on the wrist after all the problems she caused. She should have gotten some of that jail time for all the financial heartache she gave that city.
She lost her Battle.
Boy, they're going easy on lottery crimes these days! She put a lot of people through needless grief.