James Farthing was arrested and booked into the Scott County Jail on Sunday, July 26, according to jail records viewed by PEOPLE
Credit: Scott County Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
- James Farthing, 51, was arrested on charges of domestic violence months after winning a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot in April, according to arrest records viewed by PEOPLE
- Farthing has a history of legal troubles, including arrests in Florida and Kentucky for alleged battery and burglary
- He pleaded not guilty, was ordered to avoid the alleged victim, and must wear a monitoring device per court orders, as reported by LEX News
A Kentucky lottery winner has been arrested for the fourth time, this time on charges of domestic violence.
James Farthing of Georgetown, Ky., was arrested on Sunday, July 26, and is facing charges of first-degree strangulation, domestic violence related, and fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, causing minor injury. Farthing, 51, is currently being held in Scott County Jail, according to jail records viewed by PEOPLE.
In April, Farthing won the $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, the largest in the state’s history, according to local outlet WHAS. At the time, he expressed intent to split the prize money with his mother, Linda Grizzle.
“It’s going to be a good Mother’s Day,” Grizzle told the outlet at the time. “This is going to pay off my debt.”
The alleged victim, a woman whose identity has not been released, reportedly told police that she and Farthing had an argument following a boating trip, per the outlet. Farthing is accused of “put[ing] both his hands on her neck, which restricted her breathing.” The incident occurred on Cynthiana Road.
Credit: Kentucky Powerball
Farthing appeared in court on Tuesday, July 28, according to local NBC affiliate LEX News. He reportedly entered a not guilty plea, and his bond was set at $15,000. He has additionally been ordered to avoid contact with the alleged victim, and must wear a “monitoring device” that alerts police if he violates the order.
Farthing has been arrested four times following his win, including an arrest on a separate offense in Pinellas County, Fla., which took place days after his Powerball win, per WHAS. There, he faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after police say he kicked an officer attempting to break up an altercation between Farthing and another person, the outlet reported.
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PEOPLE has reached out to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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