ARLINGTON, Wash. -- A Snohomish County man's year-long search for a job came to a sudden end this week when he won the lottery.

Kristopher Johnson stepped forward Monday to claim his $6.5-million Lotto jackpot.

The Arlington man, a father of three, has been out of work for months.

He was trying to scrape enough together just to celebrate Thanksgiving until he realized he won the lottery late Sunday night.

"Wow, I've been out of work for about a year. (I've been) having a real hard time finding a job, having to juggle money around to make room to buy a turkey and now (laughs) I'm set," Johnson said.

Johnson said he plans to head back to school, fix up his grandparents place and pay for his kids' college.