By Aaron Miller-
A Kentucky man who became a multimillionaire after winning a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot has been arrested for the fifth time since his life-changing lottery win, after deputies allegedly found him asleep inside a running car in a Walmart parking lot.
James Farthing, 51, (pictured)was taken into custody at around 4:04 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 20, in Georgetown, Kentucky, and was charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place, according to a Scott County Sheriff’s Office citation obtained by the Louisville Courier Journal.
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But it has today emerged that the arrest was his fifth one since Farthing and his mother were announced as the winners of Kentucky’s largest-ever Powerball jackpot in April 2025. Since collecting the enormous prize, Farthing has repeatedly found himself in trouble with law enforcement, with his latest encounter marking his fifth arrest.
According to the citation, deputies were initially called at approximately 2:57 a.m. after a member of the public reported seeing a white Ford Mustang with a temporary tag stopped in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle subsequently moved to a nearby Walmart parking lot, where it stopped close to electric vehicle charging stations.
When deputies arrived, they allegedly found Farthing alone and asleep in the passenger seat of the running Mustang. Officers reportedly knocked repeatedly on the vehicle’s window before Farthing woke up.
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The arresting deputy alleged that Farthing displayed several signs of possible impairment. According to the citation, he had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance. The deputy also reportedly detected the smell of alcohol and marijuana.
Farthing allegedly told deputies that a woman had driven him to the Walmart before leaving him there. However, according to the citation, another deputy reviewed surveillance footage and found that the Mustang had arrived at the parking lot without anyone getting out of the vehicle before law enforcement arrived.
Deputies subsequently described Farthing as “manifestly under the influence of alcohol” and said they believed he posed a potential danger to himself or others because he could potentially operate the vehicle while impaired.
He was taken to the Scott County Detention Center. The public intoxication case remains pending in Scott County District Court, with Farthing scheduled to be arraigned on September 22, according to LEX 18 News.
The latest incident adds another chapter to a remarkable series of encounters with law enforcement since Farthing’s jackpot win.
Farthing and his mother made headlines in April 2025 when they were announced as the winners of Kentucky’s largest-ever Powerball jackpot, worth $167.3 million. But the sudden fortune was followed by a succession of arrests and legal problems.
Just days after winning the jackpot, Farthing was arrested in Florida following an alleged altercation at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by USA TODAY, Farthing was accused of punching another hotel guest and kicking a sheriff’s deputy in the face as the officer attempted to intervene.
He faced several charges in connection with that incident, including battery on a law enforcement officer, battery and resisting an officer.
His legal troubles continued in Kentucky. In February, Farthing was arrested on a charge of intimidation of a participant in the legal process. The following month, he was arrested in connection with a Fayette County case involving alleged burglary and marijuana possession. That case was later dismissed, according to LEX 18 News.
Then, in July, Farthing was arrested for a fourth time in Scott County following an alleged domestic violence incident. He was charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault.
Farthing pleaded not guilty to those charges and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He was also placed under electronic monitoring.
Now, just months after his extraordinary lottery victory, Farthing faces another case following his latest arrest. The circumstances have placed renewed attention on the dramatic events that have followed his transformation from an ordinary Kentucky resident into one of the state’s biggest lottery winners.
While the $167.3 million jackpot dramatically changed Farthing’s financial circumstances, his repeated encounters with police have created a very different kind of headline. It makes one wonder why a man with so much money should repeatedly get in trouble with the law in such a short time.
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