A convenience store employee arrested last year for stealing lottery tickets from the store was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to lottery fraud.
Ronald Evans, 47, who has remained in custody since his arrest June 11, could have faced up to six years in prison on the felony charge but was sentenced to two years with an additional misdemeanor count of theft of property withdrawn.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 21, 2019, around 3:30 a.m., Evans took seven Arkansas lottery tickets, valued at $70, from the Valero, 3228 Central Ave. Evans was an employee of the store but not on duty at the time of the theft.
Hot Springs police Officer Richard Davis viewed security video of the incident, which showed Evans go behind the counter, remove the tickets and then walk to the restroom. After several minutes, he emerged from the restroom without the tickets being visible and left the store.
On Feb. 7, Detective Shawn Stillian was contacted by Michael Tenison, an investigator with the Arkansas Lottery Commission, who stated that on Jan. 21, shortly after 10 a.m., one of the stolen lottery tickets from the Valero was redeemed for a cash prize of $15 at the Exxon station, 1200 Central Ave.
Tenison provided Stillian with security camera photos which showed a man redeeming the stolen ticket. Stillian was able to identify the man in the photos as Evans by comparing them to Evans' driver's license photo.
Warrants were later issued for Evans' arrest on the fraud and theft charges and he was taken into custody at his residence on June 11 without incident. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 3 in circuit court.
Local on 02/19/2020