Who Is James Farthing? $167.3M Powerball Winner Arrested After Kicking Florida Deputy

Pinellas County, Florida – Just two nights after winning Kentucky’s largest-ever lottery jackpot, James Farthing, 50, was arrested in Florida for allegedly assaulting a law enforcement officer.

The Incident

On April 29, Farthing was at the TradeWinds Resort in Florida when deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance.

• Bodycam footage shows officers arriving and confronting Farthing.

• During the encounter, Farthing allegedly kicked a deputy in the face, prompting the officer to say, “I just got kicked.”

• Deputies ordered Farthing to put his hands behind his back, but when he slipped behind a column and attempted to run, an officer tased him and another tackled him to the ground.

• While being handcuffed, Farthing said, “I’m sorry man, please,” to which a deputy replied, “Save your sorries for later.”

According to an affidavit, the deputy who was kicked had swelling and redness under his right eye.

Charges Filed

Farthing is facing multiple charges, including:

• Resisting an officer

• Battery on a law enforcement officer

• Battery

• Parole violation

Who Is James Farthing?

Farthing recently won $167.3 million in the Powerball lottery, the largest jackpot ever awarded in Kentucky. He purchased a $2 ticket in Georgetown, Kentucky, and chose to split the winnings with his mother as an early Mother’s Day gift.

However, Farthing has a lengthy criminal history with convictions across nine counties in Kentucky. His past offenses include:

• Choking a girlfriend

• Bribing officers while in prison

• Selling cocaine to an undercover police officer

Farthing’s girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, was also arrested for her alleged role in the hotel altercation.