Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin arrested and jailed
(Ex-Gov Matt Bevin, booking photo)
Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 3, after months of failing to comply with court orders in a contentious divorce and child-support case involving his ex-wife and adopted son.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office took Bevin into custody in Paris, Kentucky, according to local 911 dispatchers. Louisville Public Media reported that the former governor was arrested while reportedly working as an extra on the set of a Christian film being filmed in downtown Paris.
Bevin, a Republican who served as Kentucky governor from 2015 to 2019, was booked into the Louisville Metro Detention Center Thursday evening. His arrest was tied to an outstanding bench warrant issued after Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnson found him in contempt for repeatedly failing to provide financial records ordered by the court.
The records, which include tax returns and bank statements, are sought in connection with a request by Bevin’s adopted son, Jonah Bevin, for retroactive child support.
Johnson ordered Bevin to serve 60 days in jail and pay a $500 fine after he failed to meet court-ordered deadlines. The judge declined to withdraw the warrant after Bevin sought additional time to produce the remaining documents.
The former governor has repeatedly criticized Johnson’s handling of the case, arguing that she has treated him unfairly and has been overly focused on sending him to jail. He has also missed multiple court appearances or attempted to participate remotely despite the judge’s requirement that he appear in person.
The dispute has been unfolding for months. An earlier arrest warrant issued in March was eventually recalled, but another warrant was issued in June after Bevin again failed to satisfy the court’s requirements.
The underlying case involves Jonah Bevin, one of four Ethiopian children Matt and Glenna Bevin adopted in 2012. Jonah is seeking retroactive financial support from his adoptive parents and has alleged that he suffered abuse while placed in residential facilities for troubled youth.
A trial in the child-support case took place in July, although Bevin did not attend in person. A ruling in that case had not been issued as of Sept. 4.
Following Bevin’s arrest, Jonah Bevin’s attorneys, John Helmers and Melina Hettiaratchi, said the former governor’s detention demonstrated that “no one is above the law.”
Bevin narrowly lost his 2019 reelection campaign to Democrat Andy Beshear, ending his single term as governor.
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(Sources: USA Today, Louisville Public Media, Lexington Herald Leader)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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