A Spring Arbor Village man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with stealing more than $10,000 worth of Florida Lottery tickets.
Christopher Sikes was taken into custody by Marion County sheriff’s deputies in connection with the Aug. 16 burglary at the Qwick King gas station in Ocala. Sikes is believed to have used a hatchet to shatter the front glass window. Once inside he stole an entire case of Florida Lottery scratch-off tickets valued at $10,000.
A short time later, Sikes tried to cash a $1,000 stolen ticket at a convenience store in Leesburg. The store clerk advised Sikes that the ticket was declined and that the ticket may be stolen. Sikes then tried to leave the store but the store clerk insisted that Sikes pose for a picture or he would call the cops. Sikes then posed for the picture with one of the stolen lottery tickets before he left the store. The picture that the store clerk took in Leesburg was the picture posted on the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page on Monday, where he was positively identified within several hours of the post being online.
Sikes has been charged with burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property. He was booked at the Marion County Jail and released after posting $47,000 bond.
