Dennis Woltering / Eyewitness News JEFFERSON PARISH, La. The high-profile divorce of state Sen. Julie Quinn from former hotel operator Patrick Quinn has turned into a legal battle that is now sending him to jail.
In a judgment Tuesday, Jefferson Parish Judge Raymond Steib said Patrick Quinn has ' shown complete disregard for the orders of this court in that he knowingly, purposefully and without justifiable excuse disobeys the orders of this court.'
The couple's divorced was finalized in 2007 but they have waged an ongoing legal fight over support payments. Steib held the former hotel owner in contempt of court for failing to obey court orders to pay his ex-wife tens of thousands of dollars.
Steib sentenced Patrick Quinn to 30 days in jail, to be served on weekends. He suspended another 60 day jail term. He also ordered Patrick Quinn to pay his ex-wife $5,600 in attorney fees, more than $25,000 for past due house notes, taxes and insurance, plus $27,000 in past due child support.
Patrick Quinn spent about two months in jail in 2009, after being held in contempt for nonpayment. Attempts by Eyewitness News to reach Patrick Quinn and his attorney on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Julie Quinn announced in March that she would not seek re-election this fall to the state senate seat she has held since 2005.
