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James Farthing, a former convict who won $167.5 million in Kentucky's Power Ball, has plead guilty of assaulting a police officer while celebrating in Florida.
Farthing, from Georgetown, Kentucky, was arrested at the Island Grand in St. Petersburg last May, just days after learning his Power Ball ticket was a winner.
He had won the lottery along with his mother, Linda Grizzle. Farthing purchased the ticket for her.
Grizzle spoke to the Lottery and joked that it would be a good Mother’s Day, saying that the win would allow her to first pay off her debt.
Then it all went downhill quickly.
While on a bender, the ex-con became disruptive and got into a fight with someone at the resort. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office responded and attempted to break up the fight. Farthing allegedly kicked one of the intervening officers in the face. He then attempted to flee on foot, but law enforcement eventually caught up with him and booked him.
He was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, battery, and parole violation.
Court documents show that Farthing signed a plea agreement on Feb. 24, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor battery. The maximum sentence is a year in prison.
Court records and reports indicate that Farthing had previously been convicted of several crimes, including:
- Theft
- Receiving stolen property
- Drug trafficking
- Promoting contraband in prison
- Escape
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Engaging in an organized criminal syndicate
He received a 14-year state prison sentence in Kentucky for an assortment of these felony charges.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
