A Kentucky Powerball winner was arrested early Sunday, Sept. 20, after local deputies allegedly found him asleep inside a running car in a Walmart parking lot, marking his fifth arrest since he won a $167.3 million jackpot in 2025.
James Farthing, 51, was taken into custody around 4:04 a.m. ET on Sept. 20 in Georgetown, Kentucky, and charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place, according to a Scott County Sheriff's Office citation obtained by the Louisville Courier Journal. Georgetown is located north of Lexington and east of Frankfort, roughly an hour south of downtown Cincinnati.
Deputies were called around 2:57 a.m. after a citizen reported a white Ford Mustang with a temporary tag stopped in the middle of an intersection, per the citation.
The vehicle later moved to a nearby Walmart parking lot and stopped near electric vehicle charging stations, local TV station LEX 18 News reported.
When deputies arrived, they found Farthing alone and asleep in the passenger seat of the running Mustang, according to the citation. Deputies said they repeatedly knocked on the window before he woke up.
What deputies say happened during Kentucky Powerball winner James Farthing's arrest
The arresting deputy reported several signs of possible impairment, including bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance. The deputy also reported smelling alcohol and marijuana, according to the Courier Journal.
Farthing told deputies a woman drove him to the Walmart and left him there. But surveillance footage reviewed by another deputy showed the Mustang arriving at the parking lot without anyone getting out before deputies arrived, per the citation.
Deputies described Farthing as "manifestly under the influence of alcohol," adding that they believed he posed a danger to himself or others because he could potentially operate the vehicle while impaired.
Farthing was taken to the Scott County Detention Center. The public intoxication case is pending in Scott County District Court, and Farthing is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, Sept. 22, according to LEX 18 News.
Farthing's arrests since winning the jackpot
Farthing and his mother were announced as the winners of Kentucky's largest-ever Powerball jackpot in April 2025. Multiple encounters with law enforcement followed the lottery win.
Days after winning, Farthing was arrested in Florida after an altercation at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by USA TODAY, he was accused of punching another hotel guest and kicking a sheriff's deputy in the face as the officer attempted to break up the fight. He faced multiple charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, battery and resisting an officer.
Farthing was arrested in Kentucky in February 2026 on a charge of intimidation of a participant in the legal process. In March, he was arrested on burglary and marijuana possession charges in a Fayette County case that was later dismissed, according to LEX 18 News.
His fourth arrest came in July 2026 in Scott County after an alleged domestic violence incident. Farthing was charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim while wearing a monitoring device.
Contributing: Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky Powerball winner arrested for 5th time since 2025 jackpot win
