Just days after securing a life-changing $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, James Farthing’s celebration took a dramatic turn during a beach getaway in Florida.
Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was taken into custody early Wednesday morning following a late-night incident at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort in St. Pete Beach. Authorities say the situation spiraled into violence, leaving Farthing facing multiple charges—including felony battery on a law enforcement officer.
A Celebratory Trip Gone Wrong
According to law enforcement, deputies responded to the resort around 11:10 p.m. Tuesday night after reports of a physical confrontation involving Farthing and another guest. Farthing was reportedly intoxicated and celebrating his recent Powerball win at the time of the altercation.
Witness statements and a police affidavit allege that Farthing punched another individual in the face during the dispute. When deputies attempted to intervene, he allegedly resisted arrest and kicked one of the officers in the face, causing visible swelling and redness below the deputy’s eye.
Legal Trouble Mounts
Farthing now faces three charges: felony battery on a law enforcement officer, along with two misdemeanors—resisting arrest without violence and battery.
As if that weren’t enough, Kentucky officials have issued a parole violation warrant linked to earlier convictions. Farthing is currently on parole through August 2025 for offenses that include organized crime, theft, tampering with evidence, and various drug charges, according to WKYT.
Girlfriend Also Arrested
Farthing wasn’t the only one arrested during the chaotic evening. His girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, was also taken into custody for public intoxication. She has since been released, but not before officers documented her behavior as “verbally combative” and “incoherent,” per the police affidavit.
The Winning Ticket
Just days before the arrest, Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, made headlines across Kentucky when they came forward as the winners of a massive Powerball prize. The winning $2 ticket was purchased at a Clark’s Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown. The pair opted for the lump sum payment of $77.3 million before taxes.
Grizzle shared that she immediately called her son when she realized their numbers had matched, calling the win a “Mother’s Day miracle” and saying it would finally allow her to become debt-free.
From Headlines to Handcuffs
Farthing’s arrest has cast a shadow over what was poised to be a storybook turn of fortune. He is currently being held on $10,000 bond in Florida. Jail records indicate he has $315 in his commissary account.
What began as a celebration has quickly become a cautionary tale—one reminding us how quickly fortunes can change, even for the lucky few who hit the jackpot.
