KRS 403.763: Violation of order of protection constitutes contempt of court and criminal

offense.

(1) Violation of the terms or conditions of an order of protection after the person has

been served or given notice of the order shall constitute contempt of court and a

criminal offense under this section. Once a criminal or contempt proceeding has

been initiated, the other shall not be undertaken regardless of the outcome of the

original proceeding.

(2) (a) Court proceedings for contempt of court for violation of an order of protection

shall be held in the county where the order was issued or filed.

(b) Court proceedings for a criminal violation of an order of protection shall

follow the rules of venue applicable to criminal cases generally.

(3) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commonwealth from prosecuting and

convicting the respondent of criminal offenses other than violation of an order of

protection.

(4) (a) A person is guilty of a violation of an order of protection when he or she

intentionally violates the provisions of an order of protection after the person

has been served or given notice of the order.

(b) Violation of an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the

person who stands convicted of a violation under this subsection has been

convicted of two (2) or more previous violations of orders of protection under

this subsection or KRS 456.180(4)(a), 508.155, or 510.037 within the last five

(5) years, in which case it is a Class D felony if the third or subsequent

violation involves the:

1. Use or attempted use of physical force; or

2. Threat of physical harm.

The protected person in the third or subsequent violation is not required to be

the same protected person in the previous violations. The five (5) year period

shall be measured from the dates on which the offenses occurred for which

the judgments of conviction were entered.