A recent winner of the US Powerball from Kentucky has found himself in trouble with the law just days after claiming a staggering A$258 million jackpot. James S. Farthing, known as Shannon, was arrested in Florida amid allegations of kicking a police officer while resisting arrest.
Farthing, 50, learned of his historic win on a Sunday when his mother, Linda Grizzle, phoned him with the news. The Kentucky Lottery confirmed that the two were sharing the prize. Shortly thereafter, they went to the lottery headquarters in Louisville to officially claim their winnings, with Grizzle expressing her excitement, noting it would be a delightful Mother’s Day gift and help settle her debts.
However, by midweek, Farthing was in a Florida jail. Reports indicate that he became involved in a scuffle at a hotel, leading to a confrontation with deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. During the incident, he allegedly kicked a deputy in the face when ordered to turn around and place his hands behind his back. As he attempted to flee the scene, deputies apprehended him, resulting in charges of battery against an officer and resisting arrest.
Farthing has a history of legal issues, including arrests for assault and domestic violence in recent years. By Wednesday morning, he was booked into jail and remained in custody as of Friday, according to sheriff’s records.
In a previous interview, Farthing had shared his hopes that the lottery winnings would alleviate some of the stress he had caused his mother due to his past decisions. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to turn their fortunes around, as the winning numbers were revealed to be 1-12-14-18-69, with the Powerball being 2. The Kentucky Lottery confirmed that this win set a new record for the largest Powerball jackpot in the state, surpassing the previous record of A$198 million established in 2009.
While Farthing’s initial excitement about his good fortune was palpable, recent developments have cast a shadow over this life-changing win as he navigates the fallout of his legal troubles.