Woman gets probation for stealing lottery ticket

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 9:44 a.m.

BURLINGTON, Iowa -- An 85-year-old woman who admitted stealing her granddaughter's winning Powerball ticket has been put on probation for two years.

Vera L. Stanturf was given a deferred judgment Monday by District Judge D.B. Hendrickson.

Stanturf pleaded guilty to first-degree theft last month, saying she knew the $100,000-winning ticket belonged to someone else when she took it from its hiding place under a birdcage in February.

The ticket was one of a number of tickets purchased by Stanturf's granddaughter, Melony Berquist, who was part of a pool of 49 co-workers.

Stanturf was also told to pay back the $300 difference between what authorities seized and what she was paid when she cashed in the ticket.

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