Man who was arrested days after winning $167M Powerball jackpot requests to serve out his sentence
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WKYT/Gray News) – A lottery winner from Kentucky who was arrested days after winning a $167 million Powerball jackpot is requesting to serve out his sentence.
Last month, James Farthing entered a not guilty plea to charges of battery against a law enforcement officer.
Court documents say he also requested a jury trial and waived his presence at any pretrial conferences or status hearings.
However, this week, the Kentucky Parole Board says Farthing waived his right to a probable cause hearing and the final revocation hearing. He has requested to serve out his sentence, although it’s unclear what that sentence is.
According to police, Farthing was arrested in Florida on April 30 after being accused of assaulting an officer.
It was just days after he bought a $2 Powerball ticket and ended up making Kentucky lottery history with the largest prize ever awarded during the April 26 drawing. He posed for photos with the celebratory check two days before his arrest.
An arrest citation states Farthing was at a hotel in Florida when an officer tried to stop a fight.
One person told officers Farthing punched him during the altercation. The arresting officer said Farthing kicked him in the face and resisted arrest.
Farthing was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer and battery as well as violating parole.
Farthing was on parole through August 2025 for charges in Kentucky. His court records include convictions of tampering with evidence, engaging in organized crime, drug charges, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking.
Farthing was set to split his lottery winnings with his mother, who said she would use the money to pay off debt.
In an interview with WKYT, Farthing talked about turning his life around.
“I’ve caused a lot of stress on her [my mom], you know, I’ve made some bad decisions in life, and you know, God’s been good because I’ve kept my faith and done right, and something’s happened good for me,” Farthing said.
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