Admitting that he “made a mistake”, a Grand Rapids man is being charged with polygamy when his first wife learned of his new marriage via the social networking site, Facebook, as reported by Michigan Live.
R.B., 34, took a new bride while he was still married to another woman residing in Rhode Island.
After being arrested on March 17, R.B. was freed from jail on a personal recognizance bond.
R.B. said in his defense that he “let love get in the way.”
A.Q., R.B.’s first wife in response said, “He told me he just wanted to ignore the situation and pretend I didn't exist.”
R.B. married his new wife in July. Per state police he told her that he was divorced.
R.B. and A.Q. married in 2004, after having met online, and have a 6 year-old boy together.
The two were separated for over six years while he had been arrested in Rhode Island for being a parole absconder. He was returned to Michigan to serve more prison time before being paroled in October 2009.
In 2010 A.Q. reconnected with R.B. on Facebook. She said the only reason for seeking him out was to let him know that their young son was dealing with autism.
He then told her of his engagement and they talked about obtaining a divorce.
No action was ever taken by either party
Then, a few weeks later, A.Q. realized that R.B. had “defriended” her on Facebook. There were certain parts of his Facebook account that she could not longer gain access to.
His photographs, however, were available to the public. She found a wedding album that depicted nuptials on a beach in Muskegon’s Kruse Park.
A.Q. said, “I put two and two together. They were definitely his wedding photos. I was shocked. I didn't think he would be so stupid as to get married without first getting a
divorce.”
Finally able to get a hold of R.B. a second time, he promised to divorce A.Q..
And, for a second time, he still took no action.
A.Q. explained, “He told me I would receive papers in the mail and he just didn't do it.” Growing more and more frustrated, she said that A.Q. finally admitted that he had simply planned on ignoring her from the start.
That’s when she decided to contact the police department in Michigan. A.Q. contended, “I didn't think he deserved to get away with it.
I'm not a bitter person and I'm not trying to destroy the guy. If he wants to start a new life, more power to him, but he got married when he shouldn't have gotten married.”
A.Q. has since spoken to R.B.’s bride and reported, “I feel very sorry for her. She is a wonderful person. This is the here and now for her. He is my past, so it's not tearing my heart apart. You can just hear that she is heartbroken.”
R.B., though claiming now that he did sign divorce papers during his 2007 incarceration, has been charged with polygamy in Muskegon County District Court.
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