| Family target of bigamy investigation | |
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By The Associated Press Red Deer Advocate - Red Deer, Alberta, Canada | |
SALT LAKE CITY — A bigamy investigation has been launched into a polygamous family starring in a reality television show, police said Tuesday. Lehi police Lt. Darren Paul has said the probe was triggered by the reality television show Sister Wives, which features 41-year-old advertising salesman Kody Brown and his four wives, 13 children and three stepchildren. The TLC program premiered Sunday. Brown is only legally married to Meri Paul, but also calls three other women his spouses: Janelle, Christine and Robyn. The three stepchildren are from Robyn’s previous relationship. Christine Brown declined to comment Tuesday, although the family issued a statement through TLC that it was disappointed. ". . . When we decided to do this show, we knew there would be risks," the family said. "But for the sake of our family, and most importantly, our kids, we felt it was a risk worth taking." The Browns have said they hoped that the reality show’s peek into their lives would help broaden the public’s understanding of plural families. Across Utah and parts of the western U.S., polygamy is a legacy of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members brought the practice to Utah in 1847, but the Mormon church disavowed plural marriage in 1890 as part of a push for Utah’s statehood. The modern Mormon church excommunicates members found engaged in the practice, though an estimated 38,000 self-described fundamentalist Mormons continue to believe and/or practice polygamy, believing it brings exaltation in heaven. Although it is rarely prosecuted, bigamy is a third-degree felony in Utah, punishable by a prison term of up to five years. Under the law, a person can be found guilty of bigamy through cohabitation, not just legal marriage contracts. Lehi police said the evidence gathered from the probe will be turned over to the Utah County attorney’s office for possible prosecution. A telephone message left for Paul was not immediately returned Tuesday. | |
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AlbertaLocalNews.com Originally published September 29, 2010 | |
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