Tag Archives: white

While Christine Brown finally sold her Vegas home earlier this month, not all of the Sister Wives stars have had such success. But it may be a good thing that Meri and Janelle’s homes are still on the market. The Browns may need to flee back to Vegas. Polygamy is seriously illegal in Arizona, and Kody and the sister wives could face fines and even prison time. RadarOnline spoke to multiple experts on matters of law about whether Kody, Robyn, Meri, Janelle, and Christine are safe from the law in Flagstaff. “Polygamy is unlawful in Arizona,” criminal attorney Monica Lindstrom grimly reports. This isn’t just a matter of some offhand law. The law against plural marriage is sadly enshrined at the highest levels. “Arizona’s Constitution specifically addresses polygamy,” Lindstrom notes. She continues: “and states in Article 20, section 2, ‘Polygamous or plural marriages, or polygamous co-habitation, are forever prohibited within this state.'” “Under Arizona’s Constitution, living with one wife and a spiritual wife, or two or three etc.,” she says. Lindstrom continues: “could meet the definition of ‘polygamous co-habitation,’ which is prohibited.” While it’s fortunate that the Browns wisely live in multiple homes, that might not be as much protection as they imagine. Kody isn’t legally married all four wives, but it looks like Arizona lawmakers were specifically prepared to address that. “Arizona defines marriage as ‘the state of joining together as husband and wife through an agreement, promise, or ceremony,'” Lindstrom explains. It meets the definition “‘regardless of whether a marriage license has been issued by the appropriate authority.'” In other words, if a pair are married for all intents and purposes, then it counts as a marriage under the law in some circumstances. “‘Spouses’ is defined as two persons living together as husband and wife,” Lindstrom details. She notes that this is “including the assumption of those marital rights, duties, and obligations that are usually manifested by married people.” Lindstrom explains that this is “including but not necessarily dependent on sexual relations.” “These definitions arguably include ‘spiritual’ marriages,” she warns. Lindstrom cautions: “which make what Kody Brown doing unlawful under Arizona law.” Dwane Cates, managing partner of Dwane Cates Law Group, says that the Browns living in separate homes only offers an illusion of protection. Cates says that having separate houses ultimately “doesn’t matter.” In Arizona, bigamy is a class 5 felony that could even come with a prison sentence. “He could get half a year to two-and-a-half years,” Cates warns. Cates also notes: “He could get probation up to three years and $150,000 in fines.” With four wives, Kody could risk being charged with four counts, but Cates adds that “It’s up to the judge to decide.” Monica Lindstrom also explains why Meri, Christine, Janelle, and Robyn could find themselves in nearly as much hot water as Kody. “It is a crime to marry the spouse of another person,” she states. Lindstrom details: “If the second wife knew the husband was married to the first wife, then she has violated the law.” “Although they themselves are not technically married to more than one person,” she explains. She reasons: “They have agreed to allow it and have agreed to facilitate it.” Cates’ best advice is that the Brwon family could move back to Vegas to avoid any risk of prosecution. “It would be that it’s more socially acceptable,” he observes. “And less likely to irritate in Nevada.” The one piece of good news is that the origins of these prejudiced, unjust laws was a desire to combat something very sinister. Because of that, prosecutors may be happy to look the other way rather than prosecute or persecute a family of consenting adults. “They typically go after if it’s child bigamy the most,” Cates notes. “Prosecutors can decide to charge them or to not.” Prosecutorial discretion will hopefully mean that the Browns are safe, but they’re making a pretty huge gamble every day that they live in Arizona. View Slideshow: Sister Wives: Are Kody and Meri Brown Actually in Love Again?!

View post:
Kody Brown and Sister Wives Going to PRISON for Polygamy?!