A $167 million Powerball winner was arrested after deputies found him asleep in a running car at a Walmart parking lot, with officers citing signs of intoxication.
Story Snapshot
- Deputies found James Farthing in a running car at a Walmart lot after a 2:57 a.m. call.
- Reports say he was asleep and showed signs of alcohol and marijuana use.
- He was charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place and booked in Scott County.
- Parking-lot video reportedly did not show anyone else exiting his car, despite his claim.
Deputies Locate Running Car After Early-Morning Call
Scott County deputies responded to a call around 2:57 a.m. about a white Ford Mustang that had sat in an intersection near Cherry Blossom and Connector Road before moving into a Walmart lot on Osborne Way. Officers said they found the car still running with lottery winner James Farthing inside. Local outlets tied the timeline and location to details from the arrest citation in Scott County, which framed how deputies approached the vehicle and began their safety check.
Deputies reported that the car’s move from the intersection into the lot raised concerns about recent driving while impaired. That context guided the welfare check once they reached the parked car. Officers said they needed to confirm whether the driver was safe and if the vehicle could become a hazard. The reports link the response steps to standard public safety practice when a running vehicle, a late hour, and a possibly impaired occupant all converge at a busy retail location.
Officers Describe Clear Signs Of Intoxication
News reports that summarized the arrest citation say deputies found Farthing asleep and had to knock to wake him. They reported the smell of alcohol and marijuana, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, and unsteady balance. Those observations match common indicators that officers are trained to document in public intoxication cases. Outlets note Farthing was then arrested on a charge of alcohol intoxication in a public place and taken to the Scott County Detention Center.
Additional coverage says Farthing told deputies that a woman drove him to the lot and left. Reporting based on parking-lot surveillance, however, says video did not show anyone exiting the Mustang after it parked. That detail, if accurate, undercuts the claim that someone else had the wheel moments earlier. It also supports why deputies viewed the situation as a public safety risk tied to possible recent driving while impaired.
Charge, Booking, And The Legal Standard In Play
Farthing was charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place, a misdemeanor that focuses on impairment and risk to self or others. Local and national outlets reported the booking at the Scott County Detention Center and the public intoxication charge as listed in the arrest citation. Coverage highlighted prior arrests since his jackpot win, but the current case centers on the Walmart encounter and the officers’ stated observations that night.
Kentucky Powerball winner and all-around idiot, James Farthing, has been arrested for public intoxication.
This is only the most recent arrest for Farthing, who won a $167.3 million Powerball in April of 2025.
He’s been arrested at least 2 other times since winning.
He’ll… pic.twitter.com/1N03923f29
— Kentucky Girl (@Kentuckygirl1) September 22, 2026
Courts often weigh the “totality of the circumstances” when officers decide on public intoxication or impaired-driving related arrests. Case law shows that an officer’s direct observations can establish probable cause without a breath or blood test when common indicators of impairment are present. That standard explains why deputies emphasized the car’s status, the odor of alcohol or marijuana, the speech and balance issues, and the timeline from the intersection to the parking space.
Why This Matters For Public Safety And Equal Justice
Middle-of-the-night calls about a running car and a sleeping occupant demand action. Officers must prevent harm on the road and in public spaces. The reports show deputies relied on clear, observable facts tied to safety. The law applies to everyone, rich or poor. A lottery win does not excuse risky behavior in a vehicle. When officers see signs of impairment in a public place, they are expected to act to protect families, late-shift workers, and drivers nearby.
Limits And Next Steps In The Court Process
Reports do not describe a breath test or toxicology record in this arrest, and accounts rely on press summaries of the citation. The key legal steps now move to court, where evidence and video can be weighed and the charge resolved. For now, the public record shows deputies answered a call, found a running car, documented classic signs of intoxication, and made an arrest under Kentucky law for alcohol intoxication in a public place.
Sources:
nypost.com, independent.co.uk, wlwt.com, local12.com, lex18.com
