Clerk admits stealing winning lottery ticket from student

Mar 29, 2004, 4:33 am (5 comments)

Massachusetts Lottery

A former gas station clerk has admitted stealing a winning lottery ticket worth $20,000 from a college student, telling her it was only worth $100.

Antoine Y. Reiche, 34, told a Westboro District Court judge on Friday that he took the Lucky Stars ticket.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of one year of probation and a restraining order that would prohibit him from having any contact with the victim, Erica Schmitt. Judge Michael Brooks did not impose a sentence, halting the case after Reiche's attorney David Goodhue asked for more time to talk with Reiche.

The next court date is scheduled for April 1 at Concord District Court.

Reiche was charged with larceny over $250 in the Jan. 19 incident.

Prosecutors said Schmitt, 18, a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, turned in the ticket with ten stars, a $20,000 prize. But Reiche took the ticket and told her it had only six stars, a $100 prize. He then allegedly refused to show her the ticket, so she went to police.

He was arrested later and turned the ticket over to police. Earlier this month, Schmitt received a check for $14,000, her winnings after taxes.

In court Friday, Goodhue said Reiche made a bad decision, but it wasn't premeditated. Reiche apologized through an interpreter, saying, "I would like to say to the young lady, pardon, excuse me, I apologize."

Brooks said Reiche's actions were "reprehensible."

AP

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jeffrey's avatarjeffrey

I hope that the sentence is more than 1 year probation for stealing $14,000 after taxes.  It's the same as shoplifting or driving off with a car while taking a test drive, no premeditation but the effect is the same.

pegleg

One year probation seems like a slap on the wrist.  The crime may not have been premeditated, but it became grand larceny when the clerk realized the true amount of the prize and tried to steal it.  His actions also caused a police investigation that tax payers paid for, not to mention the stress and inconvenience he caused the real winner who was deprived that happy moment when you win something.

pegleg

BabyJC's avatarBabyJC

The prosecutor must be out of his mind -- Recommending only one year of probation for a theft of $20,000?  How unjust (all the criminals in MA will hope to get that prosecutor)!  A theft of $20,000 (no matter how it occured whether bank robbery, stolen cash or lottery ticket) deserves years in prison.

I bet the young girl is afraid of him (hence the restraining order) and told the prosecutor to go easy.  Very stupid decision.

golotto

I respectfully disagree with Reiche's attorney Goodhue. When Reiche grabbed that ticket and both physically and verbally committed this crime, it goes way beyond an impulse action. He physically took possession of the ticket and verbally lied about it's value as he stood behind the counter contemplating the caper. He decided to commit the crime the minute he realized the ticket's value. OK, I'll call that an impulse action; but, buy not giving the ticket back while continuing to lie about it's worth and later offering the victim $200 if she'd forget the whole thing and keep quiet ...while he still planned to keep the stolen ticket himself! That goes way, way beyond impulse. That's arguably premeditated!

CASH Only

The clerk should be required to have all his future lottery winnings paid through an annuity                           as punishment.                   

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