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A Kentucky lottery winner found himself behind bars just days after scoring over $150 million in a Powerball jackpot.
James Shannon Farthing beat odds of roughly 1 in 292.2 million on April 26, when he and his mother became the biggest winners in Kentucky’s Powerball history. But just days later, his fortune took a dramatic turn.
On April 30, the 50-year-old and his girlfriend were taken into custody at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
According to an affidavit, a brawl broke out, during which Farthing allegedly struck a fellow hotel guest in the face.
Things escalated further when a deputy from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office tried to intervene, and Farthing is said to have kicked the officer in the face.
Kentucky man jailed shortly after lottery win made public
On April 28, officials revealed that Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, were the latest Powerball jackpot winners.
Their winning ticket, drawn on April 26, matched all five white balls and the red Powerball – with numbers 1, 12, 14, 18, 69 and the Powerball 2, according to Powerball’s official report.
The two secured a whopping $167.3 million, with the option to take 30 annual installments or a lump sum of $77.3 million in cash.
This win marks the largest Powerball prize ever awarded in Kentucky, with the last major win occurring in 2010, and the previous record-holder in 2009 at $128.6 million.
Mary Harville, President and CEO of the Kentucky Lottery, stated: “We finally have a Powerball jackpot winner in Kentucky – and it’s a record-breaking prize of $167.3 million.”
The gas station that sold the ticket, Clark’s Pump N Shop in Georgetown, will also receive over $37,000 in commission.
Grizzle shared that the windfall would make for a memorable Mother’s Day and allow her to clear her debts.
Still, while winning the lottery can erase financial burdens, it doesn’t shield anyone from facing legal consequences.
On April 30, Farthing was taken into custody along with his girlfriend following an altercation during which he allegedly struck another individual.
According to the affidavit, his girlfriend was reportedly “shouting, screaming, and making incoherent remarks.”
Farthing was subsequently booked into jail and now faces charges including a parole violation, two misdemeanor battery counts, resisting an officer, and a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.
His girlfriend was also arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
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