Man who won $167,000,000 jackpot gets arrested days later in shocking turn of events
A Kentucky lottery winner ended up in jail just days after winning over $150 million on the Powerball jackpot.
James Shannon Farthing may've been luckier than around 292.2 million people on April 26 after he and his mom became the largest ever prize winners in the history of Kentucky's Powerball jackpot. However, Farthing's luck seemingly ran out just days later.
On April 30, the 50-year-old and his girlfriend were arrested at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
An affidavit alleges a fight took place which saw Farthing accused of punching another hotel guest in the face.
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Not only that, but when a Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy attempted to break it up, Farthing allegedly kicked him in the face.
On April 28, Farthing and his mom, Linda Grizzle, were announced as the winners of the Powerball jackpot.
Drawn on April 26, their winning ticket matched all five white and the Powerball - the Powerball numbers 1-12-14-18-69 and the Powerball was two, Powerball reports.
The pair won a staggering $167.3 million - now able to choose whether to receive 30 graduated annual payments or get the immediate cash amount of $77.3 million.
The win is the largest Powerball jackpot ever won in Kentucky history - the last Powerball jackpot won in Kentucky in December 2010 and the largest won previously in 2009, amounting to $128.6 million.
Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville said: "Kentucky finally has a Powerball jackpot winner! And not just any Powerball jackpot prize, it is a record for Kentucky. It is $167.3 million."
And Grizzle and Farthing weren't the only winners that day, with Clark’s Pump N Shop in Georgetown set to receive over $37,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Grizzle reflected how it was 'going to be a good Mother's Day' with the money set to 'pay off [her] debt'.
However, while winning the lottery can help pay off debt, it can't exactly help when it comes to potential criminal charges.
On April 30, Farthing found himself arrested alongside his girlfriend after a fight broke out and he allegedly punched someone.
Farthing's girlfriend is reported as 'yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements', as per the affidavit.
Farthing was later booked into jail and has been charged with parole violation, two misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting an officer and one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer.
His girlfriend was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
Poppy Bilderbeck