CLAYTON — Police arrested a convenience store clerk Thursday after she allegedly told a customer his ticket wasn’t a winner, then cashed the $50 winning ticket after the man left the store.

Kathleen Patricia McClusky, 19, of Clayton, was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. She was working as a clerk at the Kangaroo Station on U.S. 70 in Clayton.

She was taken to the Johnston County jail under $15,000 bond.

The incident occurred Dec. 23 when Luis Flores-Bautista of Clayton gave McClusky two tickets. Police say McClusky told Flores-Bautista the first ticket was a winner and gave him $17. She told him the second ticket wasn’t a winner and threw the ticket in trash.

After Flores-Bautista left the store, a friend suggested he retrieve the ticket. He took the ticket to another store where the clerk said the $50 winnings had already been claimed.

Clayton police worked with the store manager and the N.C. Lottery Commission, then charged McClusky with claiming the winnings.