James Farthing bought a $2 ticket at a gas station in Georgetown, Kentucky, and walked away with $167.3 million. That was April 2025. Since then, the Powerball has bought him something else entirely — a pattern of run-ins with law enforcement that’s now landed him behind bars four times.
The latest arrest came this past Sunday. Farthing faces felony strangulation and assault charges after deputies say he grabbed a woman by the neck during an argument at his home. A responding deputy noted welts on her neck. Farthing was booked into the Scott County Detention Center and remains held there.
Four Arrests, One Very Bad Year
The trouble started almost immediately. Days after claiming his prize, Farthing was arrested in Florida for kicking a deputy in the face during a hotel bar fight — caught on body camera, tased, and tackled before he could get away. He pleaded guilty and served nine days.
Then came February: an intimidation charge after a woman called police “in fear for her life.” A .380 caliber handgun turned up in a dryer at the scene. Months later, he was arrested again, this time for burglary — accused of stealing $12,000 cash from a Lexington home while driving his black Porsche.
Winnings Split With Mom, Future Uncertain
Farthing shared the jackpot with his mother, Linda Grizzle, who stood beside him when he claimed the historic prize — the largest Powerball payout in Kentucky’s history. There’s no public word on how the money was divided or whether any of it has gone toward legal bills, which are presumably mounting fast.
For Washington readers who’ve ever dreamed about winning big, Farthing’s year offers a sobering reminder: a lottery jackpot changes your bank account, not necessarily anything else. He’s pleaded not guilty to the latest charges and is due back in court, wearing a court-ordered monitoring device, as the case moves forward.
70% of Lottery Winners Go Broke in Five Years. Here Are Some Tips to Make Sure This Doesn’t Happen to You. (Click the link)
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