A man from Springfield is facing criminal charges after authorities say he stole lottery tickets from the convenience store where he worked.
Joshua Denney, 32, was charged Monday with computer crime and second-degree theft following an investigation into a reported incident around New Year’s Eve.
According to investigators, Denney allegedly took a book containing 50 lottery tickets from the Dari‑Mart convenience store on Dec. 31. Authorities say he later gave 10 of the tickets to friends at a co-worker’s New Year’s Eve party, claiming they were a gift from a customer.
When the recipients tried to scan the tickets the following week, they discovered the tickets had not been activated and were therefore invalid. Denney also allegedly attempted to scan his own tickets and found they were inactive.
Police say he then took activated lottery tickets from the store, ultimately winning about $70.
During questioning, Denney reportedly told investigators he had recently moved into a new apartment with his girlfriend and was struggling financially.
After the incident came to light, the store terminated Denney’s employment. He reportedly told authorities he planned to return to jobs that involve working with his hands and staying away from cash registers.
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