A convicted sex offender hit it big when he won $3 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket that he bought at a 7-11 last weekend, according to Daily Mail.
Timothy Poole, Mount Dora, Florida, is a cab driver and dispatcher for Triangle Cab, his mother's taxi company. He is also a registered sex offender and spent three years in jail after his arrest in 1999 after a 9-year-old boy accused Poole of sleeping in his bed and waking him up to engage in sexual behavior.
Poole pleaded down to attempted sexual battery and received a sentence of 10 years probation for sex offenders. In 2003, after missing several required group sessions, Poole's probation was revoked and he was sent to prison.
Poole maintains his innocence. "It may be hard for some to believe, but sometimes people are wrongly accused," he said, according to Daily Mail.
"I've known him for years and I've never seen any inclination of anything like that with him," said Poole's friend Floyd Snyder, according to Daily Mail. "He's a very positive person. Very kind. Giving. I think that's why he won. It's Christmastime and the dude deserves a break."
Poole has not had any legal issues since his release from prison in 2006.
Now Poole stands to collect a one-time lump sum of $2,219,807.90.
Sex offenders can legally play and win the lottery in the sunny state of Florida, according to Daily Mail. Poole reportedly plans to help his mother expand her business.
