Kentucky’s $167.3 Million Powerball Winner Arrested for Kicking Cop in Face

Posted on: May 9, 2025, 07:50h. 

Last updated on: May 11, 2025, 12:36h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Powerball winner arrested after fight at Florida beach resort
  • James Farthing allegedly kicked a deputy in the face during arrest
  • Winner’s girlfriend also booked for disorderly intoxication at bar

Just two days after a $167.3 million jackpot made James Shannon Farthing Kentucky’s richest Powerball winner, he found himself languishing in a jail cell in Florida – allegedly for kicking a police officer in the face during a fight. At least he can afford a good lawyer.

James Farthing, Powerball winner, Lottery arrest, Kentucky, Florida
Right to left: Linda Grizzle, James Shannon Farthing, and Jacqueline Fightmaster. The day after this picture was taken, Farthing and Fightmaster were in jail in Florida. (Image: Kentucky Lottery)

Farthing, 50, of Georgetown, Ky. scooped the Powerball jackpot with his mother, Linda Grizzle on April 27. The pair were photographed the next day at lottery headquarters grinning with an oversized novelty check.

Barfight Chaos

On April 29 at around 11:15 pm, Pinella County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a fight in the bar at the Island Grand Hotel, part of the Tradewinds Resort in St Pete’s Beach, Fla. There they found Farthing fighting with another man, Kevin Rushing, according to the arrest report.

Police saw Farthing punch Rushing in the left side of the face with a closed fist. When they attempted to intervene, a deputy was “kicked in the cheek.” Police said Farthing resisted arrest and tried to flee before being detained.

Farthing’s girlfriend, the perfectly named Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, was also arrested at the scene. The arrest report noted “she was yelling, screaming and making incoherent statements” and was trying to fight other patrons in the bar.

Fightmaster, who had also been photographed with the novelty check a day earlier, was booked for disorderly intoxication.

Farthing has been charged with battery, obstruction or resisting arrest, and battery of a law enforcement officer. The last charge is a felony offense, while the other two are misdemeanors.

Farthing is being held at the Pinellas County Jail on a $10K bond. He appeared in court on May 1 and entered a plea of not guilty. He was ordered to have no contact with Rushing, according to court records.

Criminal History  

Court records in Kentucky show that Farthing has a long criminal history that includes convictions for engaging in organized crime, tampering with physical evidence, and escape from a detention facility. He was on parole in the state until August 2024 for previous drug and theft-related offenses.

“I’ve caused a lot of stress on her, you know,” Farthing said of his mother in an interview with WKYT-TV after his win. “I’ve made some bad decisions in life and, you know, God’s been good because I’ve kept my faith and done right.”