Kentucky Powerball Winner Arrested For Third Time Since Jackpot

It was a feel-good story: A boy and his mom split a Kentucky-record $167.5 million Powerball payday.

James Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, were certainly set for life after the $2 purchase last April at Clark’s Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown, their hometown.

Things have not exactly gone so great in the year since the windfall, as Farthing cannot keep himself out of trouble.

According to numerous media reports citing information from the Fayette County Detention Center, Farthing was arrested last Friday for a third time since the big win. This time, he was picked up for second-degree burglary and marijuana possession.

According to LEX18, an NBC affiliate in Kentucky, security camera footage allegedly showed Farthing making his way into a home on Kenesaw Drive in Lexington around 7 p.m. Saturday. The person living there told police they heard what sounded like a door getting kicked in.

By the time cops showed up, Farthing was gone. He took off in a black Porsche, according to the report. The alleged victim told police Farthing made off with $12,000 in cash.

He didn’t get far.

Officers found him a couple hours later in the parking lot of Red Mile Gaming. During the arrest, police reportedly spotted a marijuana blunt sitting in plain view inside the vehicle. A search of the car turned up more marijuana. Farthing was booked at the Fayette County Detention Center without incident.

Other cases

Back on Feb. 11, Farthing was charged in Scott County with intimidating a participant in the legal process. According to WKYT-TV, he had picked up a woman as part of a pre-arranged meetup, and she told police she felt pressured by him to take a gummy. She ended up calling authorities from the home they were at, claiming people there had a weapon and wanted to hurt her.

Police found marijuana and a gun at the scene. And while officers were still talking to the woman, Farthing allegedly texted her: “Why would you do this to me? Unreal. I’d never hurt you.”

Farthing was previously arrested a mere two days after claiming the Powerball jackpot.

Farthing, drunk and spending his new money on a trip to TradeWinds Resort with his girlfriend, had gotten into a fight with another guest, kicked a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy in the face, tried to run, and was taken down.

Bodycam footage told the story. Forty-three seconds of video showed another guest tackling a shirtless Farthing from behind. When cops moved in, Farthing kicked someone. “I just got kicked,” the deputy said.

The video cut, then picked back up with tasers aimed at Farthing, who did not appear remotely sober. Officers yelled at him to put his hands behind his back. He stumbled along a wall, then took off running. The tasers clicked but didn’t drop him. Another officer did, tackling him to the ground. The video ended with Farthing face down getting cuffed.

He initially pled not guilty but eventually waived his hearings and served out his sentence.