by Just days after celebrating a massive $167.3 million Powerball win, a Kentucky man’s dream quickly turned into a nightmare on the beaches of Florida.
James Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was arrested early Wednesday morning at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort in St. Pete Beach. Authorities say he was involved in a violent altercation that escalated into a confrontation with police.
According to an arrest affidavit, Farthing allegedly punched a fellow guest in the face before kicking a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy, resulting in felony battery on a law enforcement officer. Officers reported that Farthing was heavily intoxicated, aggressive, and resisted arrest during the incident.
Farthing was celebrating his lottery win at the resort with his girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, who was also arrested for public intoxication. Witnesses described her as loud and incoherent during the altercation. She has since been released from custody.
The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. Tuesday night at the resort bar. When deputies arrived to break up the dispute, Farthing reportedly became combative and struck an officer in the face. The deputy sustained noticeable swelling and redness under his right eye.
Farthing now faces multiple charges, including:
- Felony battery on a law enforcement officer
- Resisting arrest without violence (misdemeanor)
- Battery (misdemeanor)
To make matters worse, Farthing is also wanted in Kentucky for violating parole related to past convictions, including drug offenses, theft, and organized crime. Records show he was on parole through August 2025.
Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, were all smiles just days earlier after claiming one of the largest Powerball jackpots in Kentucky history. The winning $2 ticket was purchased at Clark’s Pump-N-Shop in Georgetown. They chose the cash option of $77.3 million.
“This is going to pay off my debt,” Grizzle told reporters at the time. “It’s going to be a good Mother’s Day.”
As of now, Farthing is being held in a Florida jail on a $10,000 bond, with court proceedings pending. Jail records indicate he has $315 in his commissary account.
His sudden fall from lottery winner to inmate is a dramatic twist to what was supposed to be a life-changing week.
