Man Returns $5,000 Found Outside Bank, Felony Charge Dropped

On August 25, something unusual happened in Trumbull, Connecticut. Robert Withington found a bag outside a bank, and it contained nearly $5,000! Exciting, right? But hold on to your excitement, because this story takes a surprising turn.

The bag had the bank's name on it, and inside, there were deposit slips showing that the money belonged to the town of Trumbull. How did this money end up on the ground? Well, a town employee dropped it while heading to the bank to deposit the cash. Oops!

"Finders-Keepers" Doesn't Always Work

Withington, who probably thought he'd hit the jackpot, decided to take the bag with him. He was caught on surveillance cameras, and that's when the trouble started. On August 25, he was arrested. But here's the twist – Withington claimed "finders-keepers." He wanted to keep the money for himself.

However, the law didn't quite agree with his "finders-keepers" logic. On Wednesday, during a court hearing, the state prosecutor dropped the felony larceny charge against him. Why? Well, Withington had a change of heart and decided to return the money.

Oops, My Bad!

Before going to court, Withington handed over a bank-certified check for the full amount he found. He still firmly believes that he did nothing wrong and blames the town employee for being careless with the money.

"They dropped the money. Someone from the town should be fired for being so irresponsible," said Withington. "But I did nothing wrong. I just found a money bag. It was just a big joke. They wasted my time. They slandered my name. It was very upsetting."

When asked why he didn't take the money bag to the bank, he said the thought never crossed his mind. If he had known who the money belonged to, he claims he would have returned it immediately.

What's the Lesson Here?

So, what's the takeaway from this odd story? "Finders-keepers" might not always be a good idea, especially when there's clear evidence of who the money really belongs to. And maybe, just maybe, a little more attention to where you're walking can save you from a big legal hassle.

In the end, the town got its money back, and Withington learned a valuable lesson – it's not always easy to hold onto money that isn't yours, even if you think you've struck gold. 🤑

Note: The state prosecutor didn't comment on the case, and the town attorney mentioned that it was the prosecutor's choice to drop the charges. No one wants to play the blame game here.