(WKYT) – An order of arrest has been issued for former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin.
He was sentenced to 60 days in jail or a fine of $500 for contempt of court in Jefferson County. Bevin has not provided financial documents in an ongoing legal battle with his son, Jonah Bevin.
Melina Hettiaratchi, co-counsel for Jonah Bevin, said there are strict guidelines for how child support is calculated in Kentucky and there is no special treatment.
“No matter who you are, whether it’s the child support division filing for child support, or if it’s your ex-partner filing for child support, what the court has to look at and what you should be looking at is what is the income of both parties and what is available to go to the children,” Hettiaratchi said.
Attorney: Jonah is unable to provide for himself
Hettiaratchi said Jonah is unable to provide for himself at this time and relies on gracious strangers.
“Any support that they claim may have been provided to him is essentially they were paying for tuition in unfit abusive facilities so he didn’t get his child,” she said.
She said they are also looking into if the education Jonah received through these tuition payments are even accredited sources.
“Jonah has been very clear he’s not a legal strategy he’s their child,” Hettiaratchi said.
Background on the case
Jonah Bevin is the adoptive son of former Gov. Matt Bevin and his then-wife Glenna Bevin. He and his three other siblings were adopted from Ethiopia in 2012.
Starting in 2019, the Bevins sent him to facilities in Florida and another in Jamaica in 2023.
Lexington defense attorney Daniel Whitley Sr. is not connected to the case but said at 19, Jonah Bevin is not entitled to child support.
“What makes his case so different that now I’m now forced as a parent to give up all my financial records to assist you as an adult to a certain livelihood you think you’re entitled to,” Whitley said.
Whitley said besides not following a court order, he understands why Bevin as a political figure would not want his income on the record.