A staggering turn of events unfolded as a Kentucky man, who recently won a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot, was arrested for allegedly kicking an officer in the face at a St. Pete beach resort. The incident at TradeWinds Resort occurred just days following his lottery win, according to FOX 13 News. James Farthing, 50, reportedly became involved in an altercation with another guest late Tuesday night which escalated to the point where Pinellas County Sheriff's Office had to intervene.
During the attempt to defuse the fight, Farthing assaulted a deputy by kicking him in the face, an affidavit states. After the assault, as deputies attempted to detain him, Farthing tried to escape on foot from the hotel. The deputy experienced pain as a result of the kick to the right cheek, as reported by WFLA News. This violent behavior led to multiple charges including battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. Additionally, Farthing's girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, 42, was also taken into custody, facing charges for disorderly intoxication after she appeared "very intoxicated" and was arguing with other patrons inside the hotel.
The backdrop of this crime paints a picture of sudden wealth and misfortune. Just moments before the incident, Farthing was in the spotlight for winning the lottery, with his ticket matching all five white balls and the Powerball in the drawing. Following his win, Farthing and his mother decided to split the whopping prize, creating a buzz across Kentucky as they made history with their win. The details of the lottery jackpot were confirmed by the Kentucky Lottery, as stated in a WFLA News report.
While the aftermath of the altercation sees Farthing remaining in custody, due to a parole violation from a prior case in Kentucky, Fightmaster has since bonded out of jail, as per FOX 13 News information. Adding to the complications, the hotel staff at TradeWinds Resort has expressed an intent to press charges, informed by ABC Action News.
