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A Wreck And A Theft Spoil 74-Year-Old's Lottery Win

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - At first, it seemed like a lucky day for the 74-year-old woman who hit the lottery and went to a Publix on Wednesday morning to claim her prize.

But moments after leaving the Publix at Decubellis Road and Tall Pines Boulevard, a black pickup rear-ended her car. When the woman got out of her car to assess the damage, a man slipped out of the truck, went into her car and stole her purse containing $580, according to sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll.

The woman wasn't injured.

Two passengers, a man and woman, were in the truck during the crash and burglary, the report says. One man has been arrested in the case.

The victim later told deputies she saw the people from the truck inside the Publix as she collected her winnings, Doll said. A videotape from the grocery store held up that claim.

The crash was no accident, he added. The plan was to get her money all along.

About 24 hours later, Pasco Deputy Glynn Jude spotted a truck matching the description given by the victim and stopped it at the 7-Eleven at Moon Lake Road and State Road 52.

After being read his legal rights, the driver, Jonathan Carpenter, 56, admitted to taking the woman's purse but said the crash was an accident, a sheriff's office report states.

Carpenter, of 9680 Jerome Drive, was arrested on a felony vehicle burglary charge. He's also being held at the Land O' Lakes Jail on a failure to appear in court charge from a previous violation of probation arrest. Bail is set at $17,013.

Pasco deputies are still investigating the case.

The victim could not be reached for comment Friday.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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