Lottery theft charge dismissed

SANDPOINT — Charges have been dismissed against a Laclede man accused of trying to redeem a winning lottery ticket he allegedly stole from an employer.

Joshua O. Stone had been charged with presenting an illegally obtained Idaho State Lottery ticket, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The state moved to dismiss the case without prejudice, according to court documents. Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Larry Goins said a dismissal would “best serve the ends of justice and effective administration of the court’s business,” according to his motion.

There was no further explanation for the dismissal, the nature of which allows the state to re-file the charges at a later date.

A domestic battery charge and a charge of unlawful weapon possession was similarly dismissed, the Idaho State Judiciary online repository indicates.

Stone, 30, was accused of taking scores of lottery tickets while employed at the Laclede Store last spring. He allegedly attempted to claim a $600 prize on one of the stolen tickets.

Stone was charged following an Idaho Lottery & Gaming Enforcement Division investigation, court documents said.

In an unrelated case, a Upper Pack River man is awaiting arraignment on allegations he broke into the Samuels Conoco and made off with a lottery ticket dispenser, cigarettes and other store merchandise.

The after-hours burglary was allegedly committed on or around Sept. 13.

Joshua Lynn Voss, 25, was apprehended after attempting to claim cash prizes from the boosted tickets. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Sept. 24 and is scheduled to be arraigned on the burglary charge in 1st District Court on Nov. 2.

Voss is free on bond while the case is pending, court records indicate.