Powerball Winner Arrested Following Home Invasion
A man who suddenly went from a career criminal to a millionaire after winning $167.3 million in the Kentucky Powerball is now facing accusations of a head-scratching home invasion that involved only $12,000 in cash. This incident, which occurred over the weekend, has raised some eyebrows.
James Farthing, 51, found himself in trouble again when he was arrested on Saturday. He was charged with second-degree robbery and possession of marijuana after being caught on a security camera breaking into a home in Lexington that night.
According to the arrest warrant, Farthing reportedly stole $12,000 in cash from his home. He attempted to escape in a black Porsche, but police apprehended him soon after. Upon arrest, they found a blunt of marijuana in front of him, and a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded more cannabis.
Farthing was taken into custody at the Fayette County Detention Center without any incidents. Interestingly, this marks his third arrest since hitting the jackpot nearly a year ago.
Having spent much of his life in correctional facilities—about 25, to be precise—he hit the state’s biggest lottery jackpot alongside his 77-year-old mother, Linda Grizzle, and girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster. Just days after celebrating his unexpected fortune, he ran into trouble again in Florida, where he allegedly assaulted a hotel guest and kicked a deputy who intervened. He pled guilty to those charges earlier this month.
Complicating matters, Farthing also violated his parole by leaving Kentucky without notifying his parole officer. In February, a woman was charged in connection with threatening someone involved in a legal matter. A report indicated that armed individuals were allegedly trying to harm her.
Farthing reportedly told police he had picked up the woman for a pre-arranged meeting to discuss the matters at hand. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found marijuana and a firearm in the vicinity, and he has a court appearance scheduled in April for this incident.
In addition to these troubles, Farthing is reportedly facing other active cases, like a hit-and-run charge in Fayette County. He began his life of crime as a teenager, with charges ranging from theft to reckless driving. It’s worth noting that, according to reports, he completed only 10 years of formal education and earned his GED while incarcerated.
