A recent $167.3 million Powerball winner is facing serious legal trouble just days after claiming his historic prize.
James Farthing, 50, of Kentucky, was arrested Tuesday night following an alleged altercation at the Tradewinds hotel on St. Pete Beach, Florida. According to police, Farthing punched a man during an argument, then kicked a responding officer in the head.
The officer’s face was reportedly swollen after the incident, according to an arrest report obtained by The Smoking Gun.
Farthing was at the hotel with his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42. Authorities say she was heavily intoxicated, yelling at guests, and appeared ready to fight others at the hotel bar.
Police say Farthing tried to flee the scene but was stopped. He allegedly resisted arrest and refused to follow commands. Officers later discovered he was on parole for previous charges in Kentucky.
Farthing now faces multiple charges, including parole violation, battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, and obstruction. He remains in custody.
Fightmaster has been charged with disorderly intoxication. She has since been released from jail.
Farthing recently made headlines after he and his mother, Linda Grizzle, won Kentucky’s largest-ever Powerball jackpot on April 26. The pair purchased a $2 ticket and matched all six numbers. They claimed their prize just two days later.
Grizzle shared that she planned to use the money to clear her debts, calling it “a good Mother’s Day.” However, the duo has not yet decided whether to take the lump sum payment—estimated at $77.3 million before taxes—or receive annual payments over 30 years, which increase by 5% each year.
