Sex offender wins $57 million lottery jackpot

**celeb_2006** · June 19th, 2008, 06:08 PM

Sex offender wins $57 million lottery jackpot

The winner of last week's $57 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot is a registered sex offender who also pleaded guilty to two breaking and entering charges in the 1980s.
Fred Topous Jr., 45, was discharged from Michigan Department of Corrections supervision in October 2006.
The Kent City man traveled to Lansing on Tuesday to claim the prize from Friday's drawing in the multistate game. Topous chose to take the prize as a $34 million lump sum payment, before taxes.
Topous said he planned to buy a house, send his children to college and have some fun with his winnings. He said he and his wife work multiple jobs to make ends meet and thought they'd have to work till they died.
"I want to enjoy a little bit of life," Topous told state lottery officials. "We're plain folks. We've struggled all our lives."
According to the Corrections Department's offender profile, Topous pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual penetration in 1999 and pleaded guilty to breaking and entering charges in 1984 and 1988.
All three offenses occurred in Grand Traverse County. Prosecutor Alan Schneider said Wednesday that he wasn't familiar with the cases.
The Michigan Lottery told Grand Rapids television station WOOD that anyone can play the lottery except those under 18 and those who work for the agency.
"He's had some tough breaks," friend and co-worker Jan Westcott told The Grand Rapids Press. "I know some of his secrets, and he knows some of mine. I'm not going any further."
A telephone message was left with Topous on Wednesday night.

**msdeb** · June 19th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by celeb_2006

"He's had some tough breaks," friend and co-worker Jan Westcott told The Grand Rapids Press. "I know some of his secrets, and he knows some of mine. I'm not going any further."
A telephone message was left with Topous on Wednesday night.

tough breaks???????????????? what about the people he 'offended' Jeezus.

**Grimmlok** · June 19th, 2008, 06:13 PM

A sex offender and criminal wins the lottery. There is no fucking GOD.

**twitchy** · June 19th, 2008, 06:14 PM

What kind of sex offence?

**Mr. Authority** · June 19th, 2008, 06:20 PM

pfft I'm not surprised, the man is from Grand Rapids; the republican base of assholes and failures of Michigan. Whatever he's gonna blow that lottery money so don't matter to me.

**Folieadeux** · June 19th, 2008, 06:44 PM

Hmm...

**Honey** · June 19th, 2008, 08:41 PM

Something similar happened in England...a rapist was on temporary release and bought a ticket and won £7 million

I am also wondering what sex offence did he commit?

**A*O** · June 19th, 2008, 08:45 PM

Oh wow, I bet every hooker and con artist in the US is beating a path to his door LOL. He'll be broke again within 5 years (or dead).

**tkdgirl** · June 19th, 2008, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Authority

pfft I'm not surprised, the man is from Grand Rapids; the republican base of assholes and failures of Michigan. Whatever he's gonna blow that lottery money so don't matter to me.

Not true. Grand Rapids is not dominated by republicans anymore. They've all moved to the Lakeshore. Grand Rapids has been shifting left for the past ten years.

How do I know? Yeah, I live in West Michigan. While West Michigan, as a whole, is pretty conservative, areas such as Muskegon, Battle Creek/Jackson, and GR are pretty liberal, with GR being the least but growing the fastest. In the next election, there is no doubt in my mind Kent County will be an Obama county.

**McJag** · June 19th, 2008, 09:10 PM

He should have to share it with his victims.

**Mr. Authority** · June 19th, 2008, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by tkdgirl

Not true. Grand Rapids is not dominated by republicans anymore. They've all moved to the Lakeshore. Grand Rapids has been shifting left for the past ten years.

How do I know? Yeah, I live in West Michigan. While West Michigan, as a whole, is pretty conservative, areas such as Muskegon, Battle Creek/Jackson, and GR are pretty liberal, with GR being the least but growing the fastest. In the next election, there is no doubt in my mind Kent County will be an Obama county.

Well it's been awhile since I went to GR, but the last time I went it was a debate against some College Republicans and it was not pretty. lol

I don't get alot of chances to go to the western part of the state though but it's good that some places are shifting left.

**greysfang** · June 19th, 2008, 09:18 PM

It says "assault with intent to penetrate" which sounds like attempted rape to me.

**tkdgirl** · June 19th, 2008, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Authority

Well it's been awhile since I went to GR, but the last time I went it was a debate against some College Republicans and it was not pretty. lol

I don't get alot of chances to go to the western part of the state though but it's good that some places are shifting left.

I think its a matter of demographics, both workforce related and the usual kind. GR has a huge blue collar population and lots of auto industry influence. There's also the ever growing service industry. Most of the yuppie types, etc. have left the city and headed to the north (Rockford), south (Byron Center) or west (Hudsonville). Seriously, can't blame them since the GR school system sucks BIG TIME. Surprisingly, many wealthy liberals live in a town called Spring Lake, just 25min. west of GR. Now, GR is attracting young, urban singles to the downtown area with loft apartments, nightclubs, etc. Traditionally, these young urban adults vote democrat.

So yeah, GR is indeed changing.

This guy just seems like white trash scum to me. His political views are pointless. In fact, I'd bet he's one of those nutty Timothy McVeigh types who doesn't trust the government AT ALL.

FYI: I did a search on Michigan's Sex Offender list and he isn't listed. Hmmmm....