Kentucky Powerball winner James Farthing arrested for strangling woman

James Farthing, who won a $167M Powerball jackpot in Kentucky, was arrested Sunday on domestic violence charges including strangulation — his fourth arrest since the win.

$167M lottery winner faces strangulation charges in fourth arrest since jackpot

James Farthing, a rural Kentucky man who won his state's largest-ever Powerball prize, was arrested Sunday morning on charges of strangulation and assault, both classified as domestic violence offences, nypost.com reports.

According to an arrest warrant cited by local outlet WHAS 11, Farthing returned home to Georgetown after a boating trip and got into a fight with a woman. The altercation ended with his hands around her neck. The victim had visible welts on her neck, the warrant states.

A not guilty plea was entered on Farthing's behalf Tuesday. His bond was set at $15,000 cash, WAVE 3 reported. He is also required to wear a monitoring device and is barred from contacting the victim. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Sunday's arrest marks the fourth set of criminal charges Farthing has faced since claiming his $167.3 million jackpot last year. He purchased the winning $2 Powerball ticket at Clark's Pump N Shop in Georgetown. Following the win, he chose to share his fortune with his mother, Linda Grizzle.

"It's going to be a good Mother's Day," Grizzle said at the time. "This is going to pay off my debt."

The subsequent legal troubles have been significant. In November, Farthing was charged in connection with a hit-and-run after allegedly striking another vehicle with his Corvette in Lexington and fleeing on foot. In February, he was arrested and charged with intimidating a participant in a legal process. In April 2025 — just days after his lottery win — he allegedly kicked a Florida deputy in the head, resulting in charges of battery on a law enforcement officer.

The Georgetown, Kentucky resident now faces multiple active criminal cases across several jurisdictions.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown