Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin was arrested Thursday evening in Paris, Kentucky, on a contempt-of-court warrant and booked into the Jefferson County jail, according to local law enforcement and court records.
Bevin was taken into custody by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office while working as an extra on a Christian film set, local outlets reported. The production, titled The Greatest Christmas Gift of All, was filming on a horse farm about 20 miles outside Lexington. A dispatcher with Paris-Bourbon County 911 confirmed the arrest to media outlets shortly after 7 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Judge’s ruling triggers 60-day sentence
The arrest stems from a May 29 contempt ruling by Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnson, who found Bevin in violation of court orders for failing to provide financial records in his ongoing divorce and child support case. The judge had previously issued a warrant after Bevin missed a June 5 deadline to submit the documents, despite sending several filings minutes before the cutoff.
Johnson’s June 5 ruling sentenced Bevin to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, with the option to avoid incarceration by paying a $250 fine and submitting the remaining documents within a week. Bevin complied with part of the order but requested additional time, which the judge denied. In her ruling, Johnson stated, "Matt, as the perpetrator of civil contempt, holds the keys to his own jail cell."
Legal timeline and Bevin’s response
The contempt warrant followed an earlier May 22 arrest warrant for Bevin’s alleged failure to appear at a court hearing. Bevin had claimed his absence was due to a "very large boulder" crashing into his vacation home in Bethel, Maine, though the warrant was later rescinded after he paid a fine.
A request for comment from Bevin’s attorney was not immediately returned. The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk also did not provide additional details when contacted by media.
Background on the case
Bevin, a one-term Republican governor who served from late 2015 to early 2020, is involved in a contentious divorce and child support dispute with his adopted son. The case has drawn public attention due to its legal and personal complexities, including disputes over financial disclosures and court-ordered compliance.
The arrest occurred amid ongoing legal proceedings, with no immediate indication of when Bevin may be released from custody.