Man Finds Cash, Faces Charges: Unintended Windfall Turns Sour
A Connecticut resident’s luck seemed to shine when he stumbled upon a bag containing almost $5,000 in a parking lot. However, what felt like a lottery win has taken a sharp turn as he now faces larceny charges.
Trumbull Police revealed that the bag, featuring a clear bank emblem, was left outside the very bank it belonged to. Inside were cash funds from the local tax department, alongside several documents confirming the rightful owner as the town of Trumbull.
The man, Robert Withington, 56, hailing from Trumbull, contends that he never intended to steal the money and didn’t realize who the owner was. “It wasn’t a premeditated act,” Withington told Hearst Connecticut Media. “It was a spontaneous decision that felt like winning the lottery. That’s all.”
The Associated Press attempted to reach out to Withington for comment, but contact details seemed to be disconnected.
The incident occurred on May 30 when the money went missing. A Trumbull Tax Collector’s office employee couldn’t locate the bag during a routine bank deposit. After months of investigation, including surveillance footage reviews and interviews, police discovered that the bag had accidentally fallen outside the bank, and Withington had picked it up.
Withington emphasized, “I picked up something from the ground in the parking lot when no one was around. I never intended to steal.”
When questioned by the police, Withington admitted to taking the bag from the bank premises. He maintained that he didn’t feel obliged to return it to its rightful owner.
While Withington has a clean record and a dog training business, he now faces charges of third-degree larceny. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined up to $5,000. His court appearance is set for September 5.
In his defense, Withington stated, “My neighbors and clients can vouch for my honesty. I’ve lived here for two decades without seeking any trouble.”
What seemed like a stroke of luck for Withington has spiraled into a legal predicament, highlighting the importance of understanding the origins of found items before deciding to keep them.