Lottery Victory Renews His Hopes of Better Life

Like most instant jackpot winners, Terry Garrett has been overwhelmed with people seeking money and contributions since he won $1 million last weekend in the California State Lottery’s “Big Spin.”

Garrett, 39, has spent much of the last two decades addicted to heroin and unemployed. Before participating in the “Big Spin,” he had to get permission from his probation officer to leave San Diego County and fly to Sacramento. The loan requests he’s received didn’t all come from charitable organizations or the needy.

“I’ve had a lot of contact from people who have become mad at me, even people who didn’t care for my company,” Garrett said in an interview Thursday. “I’ve even had some druggies come up and ask me to get high.”

Garrett said he responded: “No. No. Drugs is completely out. I have a thing about that now. I figure if God is going to bless me, I’m going to stick with my promise (to stop using drugs). Some people never get a chance to spend their millions. It’s between myself and God to keep my promise.”

Many of the winners in the California Lottery have told rags-to-riches stories, but Garrett’s appears more extreme than most.

According to information provided by lottery officials, Garrett is employed as a cook and enjoys swimming, basketball and roller-skating. Garrett said he is unemployed and has not been a cook since he left a job at North Island Naval Air Station years ago.

He is serving a three-year probation term after pleading guilty last year to being under the influence of narcotics and serving 57 days in San Diego County Jail.

Garrett, who said he was first introduced to heroin while serving in Vietnam 19 years ago, and says he has not used it since his last arrest, still cannot believe he won $1 million.

“Here I am single, a bachelor who’s been without most of my life,” Garrett said. “I thought my fate of being a black sheep would never end.”

Garrett, who said he has been receiving welfare payments, usually purchases five lottery tickets a week. On Aug. 3, he bought a ticket at Green Cats Liquor Store in San Diego that gave him a shot at the “Big Spin,” but he did not send the stub to Sacramento until Aug. 18. Four days later, lottery officials informed him that he would get a spin on the lottery wheel and a minimum $10,000 prize.

$40,000 for 20 Years

Garrett will receive an annual check of $40,000 over the next 20 years. He said he understands that he will have to pay back the total amount of his unemployment benefits. Lottery officials said they did not believe that Garrett would have to repay welfare benefits.

Garrett said he plans to fly to Key West, Fla., his birthplace, to see his mother, who has been ill. He also is thinking of beginning a fund for needy children.

Garrett’s probation officer, Keith Grefsrud, said: “He’s a pretty pleasant guy. One of the most pleasant in my caseload.”

A 12-year resident of San Diego, Garrett made headlines recently when he testified at the trial of Sagon Penn, accused of murdering a San Diego police officer.

Garrett was one of three defense witnesses who alleged that Donovan Jacobs, an officer wounded in the shooting, used excessive force while making arrests. Penn was found innocent in June of murder in the March 31, 1985, shooting death of Officer Thomas Riggs and attempted murder in the shooting of Jacobs. Jurors said they believed Penn, who is black, had been provoked into the shooting when Jacobs, who is white, struck him and used racial epithets. Penn is scheduled to stand trial again on lesser charges in connection with the shootings.

Asked Friday his feelings about Garrett winning $1 million, Jacobs said: “It was amusing. That was my reaction.”