Woman guilty of falsely claiming jackpot prize

Wednesday, April 7, 2004

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- 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, 41, of Cleveland, also was ordered to pay $5,596.71 in restitution for police overtime, security and other costs related to the case. Battle reached an agreement with prosecutors that called for 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. "I have not been defeated. I'm victorious," Battle said after the sentencing. "I still turned out as a winner." 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.

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