Mega Millions Winner Is A Sex Offender

(AP)  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.

[patriot12436]

Just what the DNC needs, a bunch of convicted criminals supporting their party. Not bad enough they already have enough crooks in elected positions along with the republican party.

[patriot12436]

grammawhamma
I have ever been jealous of anyone in my life. If something good happes to someone then i am happy for them, just not a convicted criminal. Others crimes yes if they have gotten out and worked an honest life after their sentence. I had a partner who served his time, learned his lesson and is working an honest job since he got out. He learned and i wish him the best of luck in life.

[patriot12436]

jlafan
Spoken like a true *** offender

[patriot12436]

ozarkbard
If a person is here illegally they shgouldn''t be allowed to collect. There is a law on the books saying you cannot gain financially from the commission of a crime. I think it is there to keep felons in prison from gaining monetarily from writing books about their crimes, movie right , etc.

[patriot12436]

ozarkbard
I agree if cannot forgive we should shoot them. I don''t forgive them so yea lets shoot them all.

[patriot12436]

blade28515
You should know breaking and entering are also crimes, or do you want it not to be because you are also a criminal ?

[patriot12436]

I especially think *** offenders should live as outcasts. They get a sentence and serve it and get out, meanwhile their victims are serving a life sentence without parole.

[patriot12436]

scorp79
I do not think a person who refuses to abide by the laws esablished by society s entitld to any rights under he constitution. If a person who commits a crime has become a naturalized citizen and commits a crime they can lose their citizenship and bereturne to their original country. I think this is right. I wish we could strip criminals of their citizenship and send them somewhere else to live.

[patriot12436]

blade28515
Spoken like a true *** offender. What difference does it make how long ago he was convicted ? So what if the other two convictions were for breaking and entering. I can see one mistake but after the first one i consider them repeat offenders.

[patriot12436]

pensacola88
And what do yiou think they do to their victims ? I have no pity for a *** offender or a child molestor.