$167 million Powerball jackpot winner arrested in clash with Florida deputy. What we know
People who win big in the lottery often get good advice, such as don't tell anyone right away, talk to financial experts, and make plans about your future. Another good tip: don't get in fights with police.
Just days after winning $167.3 million in the Powerball, James Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, and his girlfriend Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, were arrested in Florida after a scuffle at the TradeWinds Resort at St. Pete Beach, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Farthing was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts. Bond was set at $11,500, but Farthing remained in custody May 2 due to a Kentucky felony warrant for parole violation. Fightmaster was charged with disorderly intoxication and released the next day.
Days before, Farthing posed with his mother, Linda Grizzle, Fightmaster and an oversized check for $167.3 million he won in the April 26 drawing.
Here's what to know.
Farthing is accused by deputies of punching another guest in the face during an argument around 11:10 p.m. April 29, according to a Pinellas County arrest affidavit. A Pinellas County sheriff's deputy Nicholas Areostatico was attempting to break up the fight when the affidavit said Farthing kicked the deputy. Farthing then attempted to flee, the deputy wrote in the report.
Bodycam video later showed Farthing "winding up his right leg" before kicking Areostatico, the deputy wrote, "in an attempt to injury and/or incapacitate myself." He reported visible swelling and redness on the right side of his face.
Fightmaster was 'actively engaging in argument involving other guests and her boyfriend' and attempting to fight other people, the report said. She "appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming, and making incoherent statements."
Kentucky state records show Farthing was previously convicted for theft, receiving stolen property, escape, drug trafficking, promoting contraband, tampering with physical evidence, and engaging in an organized criminal syndicate. He was supposed to remain under supervision until August 27, 2025.
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According to Pinellas County Sheriff's Office records, Farthing was charged with:
Resisting officer w/o violence (obstruction), $500 bond
Battery on a law enforcement officer, $10,000 bond
Battery simple, $1,000 bond
Parole violation
Fightmaster was charged with disorderly intoxication — disturbance. She was released the next day.
Farthing won $167.3 million in the April 26 Powerball drawing. He said at the time he planned to split his winnings with Grizzle, his mother, because they often played the lottery together.
'It's going to be a good Mother's Day,' Grizzle said in a Kentucky Lottery news release. 'This is going to pay off my debt.'
Farthing hadn't yet decided whether to take the 30 annual payments or the cash option, which would be $77.3 million, the Kentucky Lottery release said.
The $167.3 million jackpot is the largest Powerball ever won in Kentucky, the lottery office said.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Powerball winner James Farthing arrested in Florida days after win
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