SHELLEY TERRY
Star Beacon
April 12, 2007 05:23 pm
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ASHTABULA - - Lightning struck twice for a million-dollar lottery winner, who has been charged for the second time in three months with cocaine possession during a traffic stop, according to an Ashtabula Police Department report.
James Buby, 36, of 1431 Elmwood Drive, Ashtabula, who won a share of a $170 million MegaMillions jackpot in 2005, was speeding down Lake Avenue at 10:25 p.m. Saturday in his 2007 Dodge Daytona when Sgt. John Koski stopped him, police reports show.
During the traffic stop, Koski reportedly found a crack pipe in Buby's pocket, a marijuana roach and pipe in the cup holder, and money strewn about the vehicle, the report said. Buby now faces drug charges, as well as a charge of driving without an operator's license, police said.
Buby pleaded guilty Feb. 20 to another charge of driving without an operator's license, Municipal Court records show.
In January, Buby made the news when he assisted Geneva police in finding his former girlfriend, who was wanted for failure to appear in court on traffic charges issued in 2005, records show.
Buby informed police of her whereabouts in Harpersfield Township. She was arrested a short time later.
Buby then was released from Geneva City Jail on bond and charged with driving under suspension, unauthorized plates and speed; the felony charge of drug-abuse possession of crack cocaine, and the misdemeanor charge of possession of a drug-abuse instrument, according to court records.
Buby was one of seven machine shop workers to share in the multimillion-dollar jackpot. Since that time, city police have arrested him for domestic violence, possession of marijuana, driving under suspension and loss of physical control of a vehicle, court records show. However, the domestic violence and drug possession charges later were dismissed.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 4/10/2007
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