A Colorado state representative began serving a two-week jail term Friday, Dec. 9, after he was held in contempt of court during a divorce proceeding in September.

State Rep. Tim Leonard, R-Evergreen, was sentenced to 14 days in the Jefferson County Jail in Golden, where he will be held until Dec. 23, according to a story by Denver7.

Leonard’s divorce proceeding started in 2012 and the contempt charge was for violating a magistrate’s orders related to schooling decisions with his children.

The Colorado Independent had a reporter in the courtroom, who described Leonard being taken out of court in handcuffs, a common step taken when a defendant is ordered to begin a jail sentence.

Leonard was appointed to the state House after Jon Keyser stepped down to run for the U.S. Senate in this past November’s election. Leonard won election last month by less than 2,000 votes over Democrat Tammy Story.

House Minority Leader Patrick Neville (R-Castle Rock) provided a statement to Denver7:

“This must be a very difficult time for Representative Leonard and his family. I know he cares deeply for his children and my thoughts and prayers are with the Leonard family.”

Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Gunbarrel, issued a statement regarding Leonard, who she called the first sitting Colorado lawmaker in at least four decades to be sent to jail.

“It is my duty to protect the integrity of the House of Representatives, and it is troubling when a member does not uphold the law,” Hullinghorst said. “It is absurd to imagine Rep. Leonard taking a seat on the House Education Committee, to which he was reappointed just last week by Minority Leader Neville, and making important decisions for Colorado’s students when a judge has prohibited Rep. Leonard from making educational decisions regarding his own children.”