• Man won $167M, was arrested in Florida after allegedly punching and kicking a police officer during a brawl
• Farthing, with a history of theft and drug offenses, faces serious legal trouble, including a possible parole violation
• He may face up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, and probation for battery on a law enforcement officer in Florida

Picture this: you have just won $167m from the Powerball lottery in Kentucky, and you have decided to go on a bender to Florida. Your girlfriend is joining you – after all, you are a millionaire now, and yes – you will be splitting the reward with your mother, and sure – you will be only cooping up your part of measly $77m when all tax is applied, but you are still set in life.

Powerball winner's celebration turns violent in Florida

So, why would you go ahead and punch and kick a police officer in the face, allegedly? This is the question that James S. Farthing will now have to answer. Farthing, who is 50 and has had brushes with the law before, was arrested on Tuesday, a day after he had turned up at the Kentucky Lottery headquarters to verify his identity and reveal that he was Powerball’s biggest winner in Kentucky history.

However, on Tuesday, reports citing official police documents described the events of the night, with Farthing apparently getting into an altercation of sorts with another person at the TradeWinds Resort at St. Pete Beach in Florida. Jacqueline Fightmaster, Farthing’s girlfriend, who was also seen in the photo-op for the jackpot win, was present at the accident, and apparently inebriated.

A police officer appeared on the scene and sought to calm things down when Farthing reportedly punched the officer and then kicked them in the face while they were on the ground. He immediately tried to flee the scene but was apprehended.

Farthing faces jail time, fines, and possible parole violation

As to Fightmaster, the woman was reportedly intoxicated, and she continued to brawl and shout at people despite the ongoing events, which led to charges of public intoxication – both were booked in the early hours of Wednesday. Farthing was taken to jail.

Farthing is not only facing battery on a law enforcement officer, but he may have also violated his parole in Kentucky, which would only add to the legal pain he would most likely face in the coming weeks and months. The battery charge in Florida alone carries a maximum sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, and five years of probation.

Farthing is said to have been convicted on numerous charges, including theft, drug offenses, and receiving stolen property, among others. Farthing may, of all things, be the richest lottery winner to have committed a serious crime shortly after winning the prize.

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