Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail for Contempt

Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin was sentenced to 60 days in Louisville Metro Corrections on Friday after being arrested Thursday on a contempt of court warrant. Judge Angela Johnson found Bevin repeatedly violated court orders to provide financial records in a child support case involving his adopted son, Jonah. Bevin was arrested on the set of a Great American Family Christmas movie in Paris, Kentucky, where he was working as an extra.

What led to the arrest warrant

Judge Angela Johnson issued an arrest warrant for Bevin in June after he failed to comply with court orders to turn over financial records in his ongoing divorce and child support case. The judge had been ordering Bevin for more than a year to provide the documents. In March, she found him in contempt of court. Bevin missed a July hearing where he attempted to appear by Zoom from a Maine property, but Johnson required him to appear in person.

How Bevin was arrested

The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call Thursday alerting them to Bevin’s location on the set of “The Greatest Christmas Gift,” a holiday movie being filmed at a Paris, Kentucky horse farm. Bevin was working as a featured extra. Officers arrested him at the movie set around 6 p.m. and transported him to Louisville Metro Detention Center, where he was held overnight before his Friday court hearing.

Judge rejects leniency arguments

At Friday’s hearing in Jefferson County Family Court, Judge Angela Johnson rejected arguments from Bevin’s attorney Scott Cox that the sentence should be reduced or served on home detention. Johnson stated Bevin had “done nothing to show the court that you are willing to act in good faith.” She said Bevin’s behavior showed “complete disregard and utter disrespect” for the court. The judge left open the possibility of early release after 30 days if Bevin demonstrates improvement, but ordered him to serve the full 60 days immediately.

The underlying child support dispute

Bevin’s ex-wife Glenna filed for divorce in 2023. Their adopted son Jonah moved to intervene in the case, alleging he was owed additional support for abuse suffered at boarding schools for troubled teens and for a high school diploma from a non-accredited Florida facility. Jonah’s attorneys said the ruling was appropriate and that the case was never about sending a former governor to jail but about securing support for a child. Bevin’s attorneys argued the contempt order was unlawful without criminal trial safeguards, but Johnson rejected that claim.

Final Thoughts

Bevin’s 60-day sentence stands as final after the judge rejected his appeal for leniency. The sentence is appealable, but he must serve it immediately while any appeal proceeds. His case underscores that even former governors face jail time for defying court financial disclosure orders.

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