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- Former Gov. Matt Bevin was arrested Thursday in Central Kentucky.
- A judge issued Bevin’s June 5 warrant in a divorce and child support case.
- Bevin was booked into Jefferson County Jail and remained lodged Friday morning.
Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin was arrested in Central Kentucky Thursday, according to Bourbon County Sheriff Tony Asbury.
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Bevin, who had been wanted for months for contempt of court in an ongoing divorce and child support case, was arrested by the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Asbury said Bevin was at the scene of a movie production in Bourbon County when someone called dispatch and reported his presence.
Bevin was booked into the Jefferson County jail Thursday, where he remains lodged Friday morning. He is charged with contempt of court.
Sheriff gives more details about Bevin’s arrest
Paris-Bourbon County dispatch received a call around 5:30 p.m. from someone reporting Bevin’s location at the movie scene. Asbury said Bevin was participating in the production.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Bevin’s active arrest warrant and contacted him at the scene. Asbury said he was taken into custody shortly afterward and lodged in the Bourbon-Nicholas County Jail before being transferred to Louisville.
Bevin was “very cooperative” during the arrest, Asbury said.
Why was Matt Bevin arrested?
Louisville Judge Angela Johnson issued a warrant for Bevin’s arrest June 5 after Bevin repeatedly failed to disclose financial records in a court case tied to his divorce and child support for Jonah Bevin, one of his adopted children. He was also ordered to attend court hearings in person, which he did not do on multiple occasions.
When Bevin attempted to join the latest hearing in July via Zoom, Johnson declined to allow him to participate virtually.
“Mr. Bevin made that decision not to be here, but you know, he’s going to pay for it in that he doesn’t get to go under oath and present his side of the story,” Johnson said.
He was previously held in contempt of court in March for repeatedly failing to turn over financial records in the case after missing the deadline to produce records showing his income, including bank statements and tax returns. In March, he told Johnson he was attempting to gather the financial records, but needed additional time because he did not have traditional documentation of income.
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Then, in May, the former governor was given 14 days in jail or the fine, after again failing to comply with court orders. Bevin paid the $250 fine, according to court documents, and was told to produce the requested documents by June 5, which he did not do.
The June order from Johnson said Bevin would have to serve 60 days in the Louisville jail and pay a $500 fine.
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Bevin’s time as Kentucky governor
Bevin, a Republican, was Kentucky governor from 2015 to 2019. He defeated Democrat Jack Conway in the general election, but was defeated by Gov. Andy Beshear in the 2019 race after serving just one term.
Bevin has not run for political office since. He did attempt to mount a U.S. Senate primary campaign against Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014.
Kentucky Democrats quickly tie Alvarado to Bevin’s arrest
The Kentucky Democratic Party released a statement shortly after the arrest Thursday in which the state party chair criticized Ralph Alvarado, Bevin’s running mate in the 2019 election and the Republican nominee for U.S. House District 6.
“We are glad Jonah Bevin is one step closer to getting justice after Matt Bevin abandoned him at an abusive facility in Jamaica,” KDP Chair Colmon Eldridge said. “While Matt spent months on the run, his old running mate Ralph Alvarado dodged questions about why he thinks Kentuckians should overlook his terrible judgment.
“No one who thought it was a good idea to run alongside Matt Bevin should represent the families of Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District.”
Alvarado is running against Democrat Zach Dembo in November for the seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Andy Barr. Barr is the GOP nominee for McConnell’s Senate seat this year.