A convicted sex offender can spend his $3 million Florida lottery winnings any way he wants, over the protestations of two of his alleged victims, a judge ruled Friday.
Timothy Poole won the Florida Super Millions scratch-off lottery in December, taking home a lump sum of $2.2 million. Two brothers are suing Poole for psychological damages after they say he abused them when they were 5 and 9 years old in 1996.
The unidentified brothers asked the court to freeze Poole’s assets before their lawsuit goes to trial so the Mount Dora native would not spend all of his winnings.
Orange County Judge Margaret Schrieber denied their request Friday morning because there is no Florida law allowing her to freeze his assets, according to WFTV.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs are working with lawmakers to change that fact, attorney Mark NeJame said.
After speaking with NeJame, Florida Sen. Darren Soto plans to propose a bill next week that would freeze the assets of convicted sex offenders who win the lottery — allowing alleged victims a year to sue them for damages.
Matk NeJame is a total joke, a sold out of his mind ambulance chasing scumbag! He will get nowhere with this. You cannot freeze money that you win. Unless you go to jail and the Courts order your assets frozen or turned over to victims. He knows that! He has always tried to make a name for himself. He cares less about victims. Unless the Lottery changes the rules that would disqualify certain winners, then and only then would there be any change.