Woman took lottery tickets from job, cashed for prizes at nearby store, officials say

A Lincoln County woman has been charged with the theft of lottery tickets from the business where she worked, says the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Jennifer Michelle Taylor, 35, of Lincolnton, faces one felony count each of larceny by employee and possession of stolen goods.

The theft was discovered when a representative of the Lottery Commission came to the Handy Corner Convenience Store on Startown Road in Lincolnton to conduct a routine audit. It was later learned the tickets had been cashed for prize money at a convenience store in Cherryville, officials said.

Detective Justin Link obtained video from the store in Cherryville and sent a photo of the suspect to the owner of Handy Corner. The owner identified the suspect as Taylor, officials said.

Taylor confessed to taking the lottery tickets and cashing them, officials said. She was arrested on June 1 and released on a $1,500 secured bond, official said.

This story was originally published June 5, 2017 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Woman took lottery tickets from job, cashed for prizes at nearby store, officials say."