Kentucky Powerball Winner Kicks Cop, Arrested In Florida

It didn’t take long for Kentucky Man to turn into Florida Man.

James Shannon Farthing, of Georgetown, Kentucky, won the $167.3 million Powerball jackpot Saturday night, splitting it with his mother, Linda Grizzle. They claimed their prize on Monday.

And by Wednesday? Farthing was in a Florida jail cell for allegedly punching someone and kicking a police officer, according to a New York Post report.

According to the story, Farthing was at the TradeWinds Resort at St. Pete Beach with his girlfriend — and we swear we are not making this up — Jacqueline Fightmaster, when Farthing allegedly punched another guest in the kisser.

When a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy intervened, Farthing allegedly kicked him in his face, according to the affidavit The Post saw, which was first posted by The Smoking Gun. Farthing then attempted to flee the scene, but was caught.

The officer had a red and swollen face for his trouble.

According to the documents, Fightmaster was looking … well, for a fight. 

“[Fightmaster] appeared very intoxicated and was yelling, screaming, and making incoherent statements,” according to the affidavit.  

Farthing was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer — which is a felony offense — and a pair of misdemeanors, while Fightmaster got popped with a public intoxication charge.

This wasn’t the first time Farthing fought Johnny Law; according to The Post, he’s been previously convicted of theft, receiving stolen property, and drug offenses.

Clearly, this isn’t exactly the fairytale ending Kentucky Lottery officials were hoping for when Farthing and his mom won the prize last Saturday with winning numbers 1, 12, 14, 18, 69, a red Powerball of 2.

“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,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville at the time.

Well, life comes at you fast, as they say.

Meanwhile, the drawings continue

Friday night’s Mega Millions is at an estimated $80 million after nobody won Tuesday’s jackpot. The numbers were 16, 33, 40, 51, 57, and a gold Mega Ball of 10.

There was one Match Five winner out of Virginia, and that multiplier came in at 2x for a $2 million prize.

Lottery Geeks estimates 4.8 million tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

In Powerball land, the jackpot is now at $44 million for Saturday’s drawing after nobody won Wednesday night.

The numbers for that drawing were 1, 2, 3, 57, 59, and a red Powerball of 9. There were no Match 5 winners.

Lottery Geeks estimates there were 7.3 million tickets sold for Wednesday’s drawing.

Tickets for Mega Millions cost $5, while Powerball tickets cost $2, with most states offering the multiplier option for Powerball — which impacts any prize won except the jackpot — for an additional $1. Mega Millions comes with an automatic multiplier for any prize except the jackpot.

Both Powerball and Mega Millions are legal in all states except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Tickets for both draw games are also sold in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, customers can buy tickets for Powerball, but not for Mega Millions.

All-time biggest jackpots

Here is a list of the all-time top 10 U.S. lottery jackpots:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $1.76 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
3. $1.6 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
4. $1.59 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
5. $1.54 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
6. $1.35 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
7. $1.34 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
8. $1.33 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
9. $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California
10. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024, won in New Jersey

And here’s the all-time top 10 by lump-sum cash value:

1. $997.6 million, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022, won in California
2. $983.5 million, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016, won in California, Florida, and Tennessee
3. $877.8 million, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, won in South Carolina
4. $794.2 million, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, won in Florida
5. $780.5 million, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, won in Illinois
6. $776.6 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, won in Michigan
7. $774.1 million, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, won in California
8. $723.5 million, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, won in Maine
9. $621 million, Powerball, April 6, 2024, won in Oregon
10. $571.9 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, won in California