ORLANDO — A convicted sex offender who won a $3 million Florida Lottery jackpot and settled a lawsuit filed by his alleged victims is in more hot water with the court system.
According to court records, Timothy Dale Poole allegedly failed to make a payment to the victims, which was a stipulation of the settlement. Previously, the terms of the settlement were undisclosed, per court order in January 2017.
An affidavit of nonpayment was filed March 1 and signed by the victims’ attorney, Jason Recksiedler. According to the affidavit, the victims are now entitled to 200 percent of the settlement.
Then, in a filing on March 15, Poole’s attorney Christopher Morrison filed a notice of conclusion of representation.
The settlement had been reached days before the civil case was to go to trial in January 2017, according to a report on ClickOrlando.com.
In December 2014, Poole bought and hit it big with a Super Millions scratch-off ticket purchased at a 7-Eleven store in Mount Dora. Lottery officials said Poole received his winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment of $2,219,807.
An Orlando television station reported that Poole was a convicted sexual predator who was required to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Poole was accused of molesting two boys, ages 5 and 9, in 1996. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of attempted sexual battery and served three years in prison.
After news broke of Poole’s big payday, his alleged victims, who are now adults, filed a civil suit for monetary damages.
Poole, who was a family friend who also did babysitting, molested the plaintiffs on numerous occasions in numerous locations beginning in 1996, the plaintiffs alleged.
In their lawsuit, the alleged victims claimed Poole's actions caused "significant physical, mental, emotional and sexual harm.”
Property records indicated Poole moved into a mobile home across from his previous house. Poole paid $85,000 for the house. Reportedly, Poole also helped out with his late mother’s cab business.
Prior to his lottery jackpot, Poole did not have many assets — thus, plaintiff attorneys suggested to the alleged victims that they should not sue.
But that all changed in 2010 when the Florida Legislature eliminated the statute of limitations as to when a juvenile victim of sexual abuse could file a civil suit. Sex offenders and predators can play and win prizes from the Florida Lottery, according to state law.