Mother, son arrested for lottery ticket fraud
A Greenbrier mother and son are set to be the first in the area to be charged with lottery ticket fraud since the lottery began on Sept. 28.
At about 1 p.m. Thursday, Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested 39-year-old Angela M. Battles, of 78 Banister Road, and Battles’ 18-year-old son, Jacob Kyle Battles, of 335 Banister Road, in connection with the theft of four books of lottery tickets reported stolen last month from a Greenbrier Flash Market.
According to Lt. Matt Rice of FCSO, investigators have reason to believe that Angela Battles, who was an employee of the Flash Market in question, stole the tickets, and that her son had attempted to cash the “winners,” though the lottery tickets had not been activated by the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Commission’s security division at the time that they were stolen and were, therefore, worthless.
Rice wouldn’t comment how investigators concluded that the Battles were likely responsible, other than to say that convenience store security camera footage was not part of the evidence against them, and that “just good investigative skills” led to the arrests.
Angela Battles was arrested on suspicion of theft of property and lottery ticket fraud — a new addition to Arkansas criminal code — which is classified as a class-D felony carrying a penalty of up to 6 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, according to 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden. Her son was arrested also on suspicion of lottery ticket fraud and theft by receiving. Vaden said they would be the first charged with the crime in his jurisdiction of Faulkner, Van Buren and Searcy counties, and among the first in the state.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached at 505-1238 or by E-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit.)
stupid
If she worked there you think she would have been smart enough to activate them first.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Stupid is as stupid does.
its almost funny...
Ever since this story first came out, I wondered how could someone be so stupid to steal something that is BARCODED and has SERIAL NUMBERS....now we know.
Just Play
Gosh people, if you're going to keep coming up with these idiot plans to fraud the system, just pay the $1, 2 or 5 like everyone else and just play. You avoid the embarrassment and the jail time. The lottery isn't even 6 moths old and people are already trying to figure out how to cheat it. But I got to say, dumb criminals do make good headlines!
I just want the facts about news as it happens. I can do without the opinions.
The whole point of the
The whole point of the lottery is to take advantage of people with poor educations. Arkansas is full of adults who can barely read .People who just work on a farm or labor. You no Nevada casinos would have a field day here just a bunch of rich elites robing the poor its wrong. Out of sight out of mind if it the mother just wanted to give her son a good Christmas . She would have had to of found a better way if it wasnt for those tickets right in her face.
elite spade
benefits . . .
I forget, who is the lottery supposed to benefit? Oh yeah, it's the children . . . .
Looks like mother and son may get to spend some quality time together.
The whole point of the
elite spade I take offense at your comment regarding the many people in Arkansas who cannot read and are poor. The whole point of the lottery is to provide scholarships for students, which, I admit in Arkansas is sorely lacking. As for working on a farm, this is an honorable profession as far as I am concerned. Also, you may be able to read, but your spelling could use a little work. I in no way condone the theft of the lottery tickets and agree with others. This was just stupid. Just my opinion.
SUMMERJEAN
I can read just fine
Jlbeaty you took the words right out of my mouth...
Elite I too take offense at what you said; I work on a farm and can read - and type - at a rate of speed that is considered average to above average by most common standards. And believe it or not, my spelling skills are also much better than what yours seem to be. Watch what you say about certain people - stereotyping only leads to how well your ignorance can shine through at times, like now for instance. Just because someone has what you would consider a less than desirable occupation doesn't mean their education level is subpar. I'd like to see how long you'd last with me for a day "out on the farm" doing real labor.