Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A woman who said she lost a $162 million Mega Millions lottery ticket when she dropped her purse pleaded no contest Thursday for making the story up on a police report.
Elecia Battle, 40, made no comment in court other than to say "yes" when asked if she understood her rights and the charge of filing a false police report.
The no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but means Battle will not fight the charge. The Cleveland woman faces a possible penalty of 30 days to six months in jail and $1,000 fine at sentencing Feb. 19.
Battle, who was accompanied by her husband, Jimmie, left court without commenting.
Days after the Dec. 30 Mega Millions drawing, Battle filed a police report saying she had bought the winning ticket but lost it. Battle said she dropped her purse outside the convenience store in suburban Cleveland where the winning ticket was sold.
When Rebecca Jemison, 34, of South Euclid, came forward with the winning numbers and was declared the winner, Battle sued to block payment. But she later dropped her lawsuit and tearfully apologized about the incident.
"I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize," she said at the time. "I'm not a bad person. I'm really not."
Battle has a criminal record that includes assault on a drug store clerk and misuse of another person's credit card.
Her attorney, Sheldon Starke, said after the hearing that he had no reason to doubt Battle's story when he first met her.
"The reason this story went around the world is precisely that we were all taken in by it," he said.
Jemison qualified for a lump-sum payment of $67.2 million, after taxes. Mega Millions is played in 11 states, including New Jersey.
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