• James Farthing won a record-breaking Powerball jackpot
  • Now has four arrests
  • Faces new domestic violence charges

The man who made history by winning the largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded in Kentucky is once again facing the justice system, just over a year after receiving a $167.3 million prize.

James Farthing, 51, of Georgetown, Kentucky, has been arrested again, marking the fourth incident with law enforcement since he won the multimillion-dollar Powerball jackpot in April 2025.

The latest arrest stems from an alleged domestic violence incident in Scott County, where a woman reported that she was assaulted during an argument.

Authorities said Farthing is facing charges of first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault in a case that remains under investigation.

New domestic violence case causes the Powerball winner to be arrested once more

 

According to a complaint filed with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the woman said the argument began after Farthing returned from a boating trip.

According to her statement, the confrontation escalated, and Farthing allegedly placed his hands around the victim’s neck.

The complaint also alleges that Farthing lifted the woman against a wall during the altercation, which took place on Sunday.

Authorities said the alleged victim had visible injuries when deputies responded, and those injuries were documented in the police report.

Farthing appeared before a judge on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges filed by prosecutors.

The court set bond at $15,000, allowing him to be released while the criminal proceedings continue.

As part of the judge’s conditions, Farthing must stay away from the alleged victim.

He is also required to wear an electronic monitoring device while the case remains pending.

Four arrests since winning the Powerball jackpot

The latest charges add to a growing list of legal problems Farthing has faced since his life changed after winning the Powerball jackpot.

His first arrest after becoming a millionaire occurred on April 28, 2025, in Pinellas County, Florida.

In that case, he faced charges of battery and resisting law enforcement, although he later pleaded not guilty.

Months later, he was charged again in Kentucky in connection with a car crash that occurred in November 2025.

Authorities alleged that he was speeding before causing the collision.

Investigators also claim that he left the scene of the accident after the crash.

That case became the second major legal proceeding he faced after receiving the record-breaking lottery prize.

Public records show that his legal troubles continued to mount in the months that followed.

From Kentucky’s biggest Powerball winner to a growing list of legal troubles

Court records show that James Farthing had faced criminal charges both before and after becoming a Powerball winner.

The documented allegations include cases involving assault and strangulation.

The records also include charges of intimidating a participant in a legal proceeding.

Additional charges involve possession of illegal substances.

When he claimed the Powerball jackpot, Farthing said he planned to share part of the winnings with his mother, Linda Grizzle.

Grizzle was the person for whom he purchased the winning ticket that ultimately became the largest Powerball prize ever awarded in Kentucky.

The jackpot totaled $167.3 million, dramatically changing the winner’s life.

However, just over a year after celebrating the historic prize, the Powerball winner arrested is once again facing criminal proceedings that leave his future in the hands of the courts.

As the case moves forward, authorities will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the charges and decide the outcome for a man whose extraordinary fortune has been overshadowed by a series of legal problems.

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SOURCE: Univision