Sioux Center, Iowa — An Ireton woman has been arrested on felony theft and lottery forgery charges.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sioux County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Sioux Center Police Department, 64-year-old Kathleen Vonk of Ireton is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in lottery tickets and then claiming the prizes on the winning tickets. She was arrested on Wednesday.
In his statement, the officer says that between June 18th and August 25th of this year, Vonk allegedly stole $12,788 in lottery tickets from South Ridge Travel Plaza in Sioux Center, played the stolen tickets, cashed in the winning tickets, and kept the prize winnings. He says she signed fictitious names on some of the tickets. The prize winnings added up to $6,655, according to the officer.
Vonk was charged with one count of first-degree theft, a class C felony, as well as two counts of lottery forgery and one count of second-degree theft, all class D felonies. If convicted, Vonk could face up to ten years in prison on the class C felony count and up to five years each on the class D felony counts.
No court dates have yet been set in the case.
At last report, Vonk remained in the Sioux County Jail in Orange City in lieu of a $10,000 cash or surety bond.
