A Kentucky man who made headlines for winning a massive Powerball jackpot is back in the news for a very different reason.
James Farthing, 51, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was arrested on Sunday, July 26, and charged with first-degree strangulation, domestic violence related, and fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, causing minor injury, according to Scott County Jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.
The arrest marks Farthing’s fourth since he won Kentucky’s largest-ever Powerball jackpot earlier this year.
Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, won the $167.3 million Powerball jackpot in April, according to local outlet WHAS. At the time, the life-changing win seemed like the beginning of a dream come true. Farthing said he planned to split the money with his mother, who was thrilled about what the prize could mean for their family.
“It’s going to be a good Mother’s Day,” Grizzle told the outlet at the time. “This is going to pay off my debt.”
But in the months since that historic lottery win, Farthing’s legal troubles have continued to pile up.
In the latest case, the alleged victim, whose name has not been released, reportedly told police she and Farthing got into an argument after a boating trip, according to WHAS. The incident allegedly happened on Cynthiana Road.
Farthing is accused of putting both hands around the woman’s neck and restricting her breathing, the outlet reported.
He appeared in court on Tuesday, July 28, according to local NBC affiliate LEX News. Farthing pleaded not guilty, and his bond was set at $15,000.
A judge also ordered Farthing to have no contact with the alleged victim. He must wear a monitoring device that alerts police if he violates that order, according to LEX News.
This is not the first time Farthing has faced criminal allegations since his lottery win.
Just days after winning the jackpot in April, Farthing was arrested in Pinellas County, Florida, according to WHAS. In that case, he was accused of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after police said he kicked an officer who was trying to break up an altercation between Farthing and another person.
Farthing has also been linked to other legal issues in Florida and Kentucky, including allegations involving battery and burglary, according to previous reports.
