A Kentucky man who just won the $167 million Powerball jackpot was arrested in Florida for allegedly kicking a deputy during a resort fight. James Farthing, 50, was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer. He also faces misdemeanor charges for resisting an officer and simple battery.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said the altercation happened Tuesday night at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. It started as a fight between Farthing and another guest. Deputies stepped in to break it up.
According to the arrest affidavit, Farthing kicked a deputy in the right cheek. The officer had tried to intervene in the scuffle. Farthing was then ordered to turn around and place his hands behind his back.
Instead, police said, he tried to run. He also allegedly punched another person in the face during the argument. The blow was described as a closed-fist hit to the victim’s left cheek.
Farthing wasn’t alone. Deputies also arrested his girlfriend, Jaqueline Fightmaster, for disorderly intoxication. She later posted bond and was released.
The arrest came just three days after Farthing hit the Powerball jackpot. He and his mother, Linda Grizzle, won $167.3 million — the largest Powerball prize in Kentucky history. The winning ticket was purchased at a Georgetown gas station.
Despite the windfall, Farthing remains in jail. Officials say he violated parole from a prior case in Kentucky. That violation is keeping him behind bars for now.
The arrest has stunned many who watched Farthing’s sudden rise to lottery fame. His mugshot now joins headlines that were once about his jackpot win.
From millionaire to inmate in less than a week — Farthing’s post-lottery story has taken a sharp and unexpected turn.