Kentucky lottery winner arrested again after intoxicated car incident
James Farthing, the man who won a $167.3 million Powerball prize, was taken into custody Sunday for public intoxication after police found him asleep in a running car at a Walmart lot.
James Farthing, who captured Kentucky’s largest lottery prize of $167.3 million in April 2025, was arrested early Sunday in Georgetown after deputies found him asleep in a running white Mustang parked near an electric-vehicle charger at a Walmart. Police noted the smell of alcohol and marijuana, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and difficulty balancing, leading to a charge of public intoxication. The incident is the latest in a series of legal troubles that include a July domestic-violence arrest for first-degree strangulation, a February intimidation charge, and a March burglary allegation involving $12,000 in cash.
Earlier, Farthing faced a Florida arrest for assaulting a sheriff’s deputy at a beach resort. He was taken to the Scott County Detention Center, with a court date pending in Scott County District Court. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the behavior of high-profile lottery winners.
Why it matters
The story shows how sudden wealth can lead to repeated legal problems, raising public safety and accountability concerns.
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