Story update on March 3
A Northern Kentucky lottery winner was arrested on drug related charges days after winning $250,000, Kenton County Prosecutor Rob Sanders confirmed Thursday.
Joseph Hellard was arrested on March 2 by Erlanger police. According to the police report, Hellard was traveling on Dixie Highway in Erlanger with expired registration. A canine was requested, which resulted in search of the vehicle.
Officers found a glass smoking pipe “containing a white crystal substance,” which officers identified as Methamphetamine.
Hellard was charged with possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, buying/possession of drug paraphernalia, and no registration on car plates, the report states.
Original story from March 2
An Elsmere man won $250,000 on a Kentucky Lottery scratch-off.
“It’s going to be life-changing,” said Joseph Hellard, who claimed his prize on Monday.
Hellard said that he stopped by the Elsmere Mini Mart on Garvey Avenue last Saturday to purchase lottery tickets.
He scratched off a few losers and started to leave the store, but as he was walking out, he grabbed a $10 bill from his coat pocket and decided on one more try.
That ten bucks purchased a 100X scratch-off game.
Hellard scratched off his ticket while in the store and noticed on the first row of his ticket he matched the number 15.
“I figured, no matter what, I would get my money back,” he told lottery officials, which published a news release.
Hellard proceeded to scratch off the prize amount, uncovering a $50,000 prize.
“My eyes are bad, so I had to look at it several times,” Hellard said.
He continued to scratch off the rest of the ticket when on the last row he also uncovered a 100X symbol. This symbol is a multiplier indicating that players multiply the prize shown below by that symbol.
The prize amount was $1,000.
When he came to the last spot on the ticket, he discovered a second 100X symbol with another $1,000 prize.
“I fell to the ground on my knees. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was crazy,” Hellard told lottery officials.
Hellard said he plans to buy a house and a new vehicle with the winnings.
“Everything we’ve been through, it’s sure going to help,” Hellard said.
Elsmere Mini Mart will receive a $2,500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.