Convenience store clerk arrested for stealing cash and lottery tickets

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – James Lee Dougan V, 36, was arrested yesterday and charged with grand theft and scheme to defraud after allegedly taking cash and lottery tickets from a 7-11 store.

A Gainesville Police Department officer responded to the 7-11 at 4207 NW 13th Street after Dougan’s employer reported a “systematic, ongoing course of conduct” to defraud 7-11 over a period of at least a week. A manager at the store showed the officer surveillance footage that reportedly showed Dougan taking money out of the register and handing it to an unknown man, putting money from the register into his own pocket, giving unpurchased lottery tickets to unknown people, and taking unpurchased lottery tickets for himself. The manager reported that Dougan had taken about $1,000 in cash and at least $300 in lottery tickets.

A witness told the officer that he had gone to the store “on a handful of occasions,” where Dougan gave him 5-10 lottery tickets; he said Dougan would find him later and take the lottery tickets back.

Post Miranda, Dougan reportedly admitted that he had pocketed cash over a period of time, saying he took $30-$50 at a time. He reportedly denied taking or giving away lottery tickets but said he may have pulled them from the container and “let them sit around for extended periods of time.” He said he always paid for his lottery tickets and did not know why the witness would say he gave him tickets.

Dougan has one misdemeanor conviction (violent). Judge Thomas Jaworski released him on his own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.