Bill Puts Lottery Winnings By Sex Offenders in Escrow

Sex offenders who hit it big in the Florida Lottery would have the winnings placed into escrow, giving their victims an opportunity to resolve any claims, under a proposal filed Friday by state Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs.

The measure, which doesn’t yet have a Senate companion, would place the prize of a person convicted of sexual battery, lewd acts or other sexual misconduct into an escrow account for one year. The proposal would also put a hold on any prize of $600 or more if a winner has an outstanding debt to a state agency or owes child support.

The measure comes after the Orlando Sentinel reported in December that a convicted sex offender from Lake County won a $3 million prize in a scratch-off game. Earlier this month, an Orange County judge denied a request from the Lake County man’ two male victims, aged 6 and 11 when the crime was committed in 1997, to freeze the winnings. After being informed of the winner’s police record, the lottery removed the individual’s photo from its website.

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