Man charged with bigamy after wives' Facebook encounter

 

A Seattle-area corrections officer has been charged with bigamy after his two wives learned about each other on Facebook, prosecutors say.

Alan O’Neill, 41, married his first wife in 2001, when he was known as Alan Fulk, according to The News Tribune of Tacoma.  The couple split up eight years later, and Fulk moved out, but the pair never divorced, the newspaper reported.

Last December, he reportedly petitioned to have his name changed to O’Neill before marrying his second wife.


The first wife allegedly learned about the second wife when Facebook recommended the two women become “friends,” Prosecutor Mark Lindquist told The News Tribune.

O’Neill, who has worked as a Pierce County corrections officer for five years, has been placed on administrative leave and is scheduled to appear in court March 22 on the felony charge.

Lindquist told the newspaper that the first wife alerted authorities to the dual marriages after he asked her to keep quiet about it while he fixed the situation.

Apparently, she wasn’t convinced.

“It’s not the crime of the century, but it is a crime,” Lindquist told the newspaper.

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I was out instructing my sons boy scout troop in wilderness survival a few weeks ago, teaching them how to make shelters, find water and identify foods to eat. One boy asked if there was anything that a man should NEVER EVER eat no matter what............I told them yea....Wedding Cake! :)

  • 4 votes
Reply#26 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 4:57 PM EST

Warning!

Do NOT read this comment while drinking a soda.

Take it from experience.

  • 1 vote
#26.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:51 PM EST

Haaa Haaa. You crack me up. Everyone to his own.

    #26.2 - Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:05 AM EST
    Reply

    He will not get into any trouble. My former husband committed bigamy with his second wife while we were still married. The San Francisco District Attorney's office refused to prosecute, saying since the bigamist marriage wasn't "legal," it was no big deal and they refused to press charges. Why bother having the G-D law on the books if you are not going to enforce it. While I was devastated and my ex and his tramp walked around smug and smiling -- a few years down the road, he came home from work and caught her in bed with his best friend. Tramp walked off and left him and the three kids she had by him. Ha-ha-ha -- whose got the last laugh now!!!

      Reply#27 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 4:59 PM EST

      I LOVE stories like these! LOL!

        #27.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:42 PM EST
        Reply

        Why is this illegal? If 2 men or 2 women can legally marry, this should be too!

          Reply#28 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:05 PM EST

          This case depicts America's hypocrisy to a tee. The FBI going after a guy who might have broken the law, literally maybe, but not intentionally and isn't this going after the pot while the kettle had sex, abandoned two wives, one going through cancer while also married to other, the nextone in line? Why this selective hypocrisy? Now, if he is a republican, tea partier, then I agree and not only go after him, but also look for his domestic partner, I'm sure, knowing as I do, those two groups, there has to be the queer who couldn't hear somewhere in the neighborhood or the neighbor's closet. And while looking for his domestic partner in the closet, ask Tom Cruise and John Travolta to come out also.

            Reply#29 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:10 PM EST

            The first wife allegedly learned about the second wife when Facebook recommended the two women become "friends," Prosecutor Mark Lindquist told The News Tribune.

            Things really went down hill for a friend of mine when his current wife and 4th ex got together. LOL! Lucky for him HAL 9000 wasn't around then to introduce all 5 to each other.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#30 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:15 PM EST

            Marriage is a civil contract. It should not be a criminal matter if a civil contract is broken. Marriage should have no special status and be no different than any other civil contract. Purge the term 'marriage' from the laws.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#31 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:16 PM EST

            Marriage is more than a civil contract between two people. Through marriage, each person enjoys rights like making decisions with third parties and privileges like not being compelled to testify against the spouse accused of a crime. Let's say there were no law concerning bigamy. Has this guy committed a crime for which he can be prosecuted? Very likely there is some financial crime against wife #1? The divorce would have given her rights to some portion of his pension and alimony or whatever... Let's say there wasn't an issue there... aren't there crimes against wife #2 like fraud/deception? So even if there is no "bigamy" he's done something wrong and potentially harmful against other adults. If someone breaks into your house and takes the coats in the front closet and nothing else do you think that person should go to jail for violating your home and your property? You probably think they should be at least fined. More likely, you think they should spend at least 1 day in jail. Well, whatever this guy did... even if we don't call it bigamy... is bigger than someone coming into your home just to take coats in the front closet....

              #31.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:13 PM EST

              Marriage is a civil contract. It should not be a criminal matter if a civil contract is broken.

              Well, if nothing else, I would imagine that changing your name in order to commit an act that you know is illegal would constitute fraud - and that IS a criminal matter.

              • 1 vote
              #31.2 - Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:35 AM EST
              Reply

              Another waste of time in the justice system! Adults be adults when its over its over. Grow up and move on. Life is to short. Be glad that you are not married to some one where neither of you can stand each other but you don't have the guts, maturity, common sense, to leave and let it be done. Who ever did this corrections officers back ground check before he was hired should be fired. This is another waste of time in the justice system. It makes no common sense. Its ok to have an affair if you are married, no one throws you in jail for that but if you marry the person that you are having an affair with no matter how long you been seperated from you ex-wife without a formal divorce you can go to jail and charged with a felony. That is just as stupid as being cahrged with a crime if you pay a prostitute for sex but its ok if you go to the night club this weekend and get a "hook up" between consenting adults where there is no exchange of money. America grow up. People have affairs every day and every minute of the day! These are moral issues not criminal issues. Bigamy, adultary, and cheating are all moral issues. If this corrections officer was a member of the FDLS and lived in Utah or Arizona with six or 100 wives no one would give a crap!

                Reply#32 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:25 PM EST

                Could it be his religious right to have more wives than one ?

                  Reply#33 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:26 PM EST

                  Let the man fix the situation! Let him keep his job. Do not prosecute him. She is mean and vengeful. Why are a long separation, would you keep trying to destroy another person. Move on lady! Leave him alone! What an f'in nightmare his is facing.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#34 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:29 PM EST

                  Moral of the story - FACEBOOK RUINS LIVES

                    Reply#35 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:32 PM EST

                    And it has certain ruined everyone's ability to have face-to-face conversations!

                      #35.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:41 PM EST
                      Reply

                      Slightly off topic but...Why is it that two men can now marry each other, two women can now marry each other but three people can't be married to each other? I think multiple partner marriages will be the next alternate lifestyle to be pushed. What do you think? Multiple partners or marrying close relatives? When you start messing around with a society's moral code there is no end to it.

                        Reply#36 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:32 PM EST

                        I don't want government in any moral argument. The laws should be clear for human interaction: Act like a22hole good chance yours may be kicked. That's should be it's extent. Government should be for protecting us and finding better ways to get everyone working. Stop the social issues and grandstanding!!!! Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

                          #36.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:38 PM EST

                          This is more than a moral issue. The first wife has financial rights being infringed by his failure to divorce her. The second wife has rights to know the identity of her husband which he denied her by changing his name and not disclosing this existing marriage. When we deceive other people and enter into financial arrangements with them based on lies, that's fraud and maybe theft. If I took $500 from you, you should get the government's protection right? Well, the first wife has rights greater than $500. If I promise you I'll work on your lawn after you pay me $100 for lawn grooming services, you have a right to get the work I promised. Well, the rights of wife #2 are greater than in that deception in the lawn service contract. This isn't just about shame or two "stupid" women who shouldn't have any rights. Imagine this guy signed a confidentiality contract to work for Company A then he gets hired by Company B (a rival company) without disclosing that he works for Company A... it's clear to you that this guy committed a crime against the companies -- either Company A or BOTH Company A & B.... It's so easy to see that he committed a crime there but not with this "marriage" business.... He didn't need to marry the second woman... then he wouldn't be in trouble at all....

                            #36.2 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:26 PM EST

                            "Multiple partners or marrying close relatives? When you start messing around with a society's moral code there is no end to it."

                            This is exactly WHY 2 men or 2 women should not be allowed to "marry"!

                              #36.3 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:44 PM EST
                              Reply

                              1ad-1602146 Why did you want him prosecuted in the first place? If he didn't want you any more just pull up your big girl panties and move on. Obviously he wasn't worth it and neither was the other woman. This sounds like a case of truly what goes around comes around back on him. You have wasted days, weeks, months perhaps years of you life being hurt, angry at two people that were not even worth your time or the energy to concern yourself. It boggles my mind why people get so up set when they lose a spouse or lover to someone else. You need to rejoice and be thankful that God has made a way for you to find some one better suited to and for you. If you have a spouse who cheats on you don't be upset and in dispare. If he does it to you he or she will do it to them to sooner or later. Move on be happy and let it go!

                                Reply#37 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:35 PM EST

                                Lame.

                                  Reply#38 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:40 PM EST

                                  He must be White!!

                                    Reply#39 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:47 PM EST

                                    White what? How does your comment have anything to do with this story?

                                      #39.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:44 PM EST
                                      Reply

                                      The first wife allegedly learned about the second wife when Facebook recommended the two women become “friends,” Prosecutor Mark Lindquist told The News Tribune.

                                      thinking this guy might have a rather strong case against facebook.......could cost them a few mil...lol

                                        Reply#40 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:49 PM EST

                                        Probably would have worked out better if he'd told them about each other.

                                          Reply#41 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:54 PM EST

                                          The penalty for bigamy should be trigamy.

                                            Reply#42 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:54 PM EST

                                            Had a friend with the same situation. Many, many years ago, my friend (although still living with his first wife, wanted to take his girfriend to Italy. His brother, an Italian, said "You cannot bring an unmarried woman under my roof." So he married her. When we all found out about it, we were furious. A few years later, poor guy had a massive stroke and lay in the hospital in a coma. Wife #1 naturally came to be with him. Problem was, wife #2 showed up at the hospital as well. You cannot believe what followed.....................just like a soap opera, only worse. He finally passed away (to get away, we think). Wife #1 got everything, since wife #2 had no legal marriage. What a mess.

                                              Reply#43 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 5:57 PM EST

                                              Let this be another lesson for all you Facebook lovers out there.....i've been trying to tell people to stay off that government sponsored site for years but it just keeps growing and growing.....everything you post will at some time or another be used against you just remember that.....

                                                Reply#44 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:12 PM EST

                                                I really don't care how many wives or husbands someone has. It is a waste of tax payer dollars to prosecute such a thing. Actually with the cost of living now days, it probably makes more sense for a woman to have several husbands if there are children to be raised!

                                                  Reply#45 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:12 PM EST

                                                  what a sad lonely C*NT to rat the situation that way. Probably why he left her selfish ass in the first place.

                                                  • 1 vote
                                                  Reply#46 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:19 PM EST

                                                  She sounds like a smart woman to have separated from a man capable of this type of deception. She probably reported the incident because clearly he cannot be trusted to do the "right" thing or the "legal" thing on his own. Now, the situation that could have been smooth if he had simply done the legal thing, will be handled with court supervision. Does the government want to interfere in family affairs? No. Will the government interfere to protect other adults and children from irresponsible, reckelss or malicious people who do not do the things they "should"? Yes. Thank goodness. Because I think children shouldn't be beaten by drunk fathers and people should be told the truth about the identity of the person they are getting married to.

                                                    #46.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:33 PM EST

                                                    Unhappy with women, are we? Big?

                                                      #46.2 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:51 PM EST

                                                      GPGPGPGPGPGPGP sounds like one of those bitter old hags who holds a grudge for life and who hates men because none of them find her attractive.

                                                      Take a break and go feed your cats.

                                                      That's how it usually goes....

                                                        #46.3 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:39 PM EST

                                                        mtr sounds like someone who's had a couple of bad experiences with women and holds a grudge against the entire gender for life. Talk about the pot calling the kettle "bitter".

                                                          #46.4 - Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:40 AM EST
                                                          Reply

                                                          Who cares whether there was intent or anything else.....Seriously he wasnt with his wife anymore and they want to charge him with a fellony... come on give me a break isnt there better things we could spend our tax payer money on than charging this guy with a fellony for moving on with his life and trying to be happy

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#47 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:47 PM EST

                                                          You forget that number two wife has no legal grounds for anything. She i not his wife, under the law. If I were here, I would want some protection from this lazy so and so. She has no ground for his estate or anything else. She's lucky she found out.

                                                            #47.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 6:53 PM EST

                                                            It's a big deal, because bitter divorced women say it's a big deal.

                                                            Don't you get it.... evil, bitter, ugly, obese, unattractive divorced women MUST have their revenge.

                                                              #47.2 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:37 PM EST

                                                              mtr89123-2020 - No where in this article is it even implied that she is ugly, obese or unattractive. The rest.... well, yes, it does seem so.

                                                                #47.3 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:43 PM EST

                                                                looks like mtr89123-2020 went through an UGLY divorce. LOL!

                                                                Get some counseling, you'll feel better.

                                                                  #47.4 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:46 PM EST

                                                                  It's a big deal, because bitter divorced women say it's a big deal.

                                                                  Obviously your reading comprehension skills are limited. The whole issue here is that there WASN'T a divorce in the first place. Besides, how do you know SHE didn't toss him out of the house in the first place? A man who would pull this kind of scam on two women may well have been cheating while he was still with wife #1.

                                                                    #47.5 - Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:43 AM EST
                                                                    Reply

                                                                    I don't get it. What';s the big deal? If he moved out but just didn't do the divorce, what's the big deal? I also don't get why he didn't do the divorce, wth? Who would eant to stay married if they don't want to be with that person? Or was he still "with " her?? I'm confused! I also don't get why I am commenting on this dumb story, LOL

                                                                    Good job idiot, you had to go and not file for divorce and remarry. Now you get life in prison and a felony. You were better off molesting a child or murdering someone then you would have gotten like three years probabtion (even then the officers would not properly check your place). Everybody knows that if you do this or cheat someone (or the Gov't) out of money you get to rot in prison but if you molest or kill someone you squeek on by.....

                                                                      Reply#48 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:08 PM EST

                                                                      At the age of 22 and with 2 small children, I left my first husband after four years of marriage after he turned out to be a jerk, to put it bluntly. I went on welfare with the children and he took off, and the cost of tracking him down for a divorce was beyond my means at that time. A couple of years later I get a call from a very nice woman, who had discovered he was still married to me--after she started filing for divorce from him. We had a wonderful chat, I got my divorce and she got an annulment, and luckily (for him) he didn't get charged for bigamy. And this was before Facebook.

                                                                        Reply#49 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:18 PM EST

                                                                        And I'm sure that you were just a wonderful loving wife... and it was all his fault.

                                                                        I'm sure if it happened today, you'd be running right down to the police and then to MS-NBC.

                                                                        You still sound bitter and ticked off that you couldn't put him in jail like this lady is trying to do.

                                                                          #49.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:35 PM EST

                                                                          Nope, humor of the situation was meant, not sarcasm or bitterness. I was 18 and naive when we married, and didn't realize he had serious mental problems (which is why wife #2 was divorcing him) and wasn't able to take care of a family. It did take me 4 years to figure it out. I feel sorry for him actually, and it is too bad he missed out on helping raise our two wonderful children.

                                                                            #49.2 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:48 PM EST

                                                                            mtr................If you had a bitter divorce, it isn't catje's fault. Lighten up. already.

                                                                              #49.3 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 9:24 PM EST
                                                                              Reply

                                                                              Divorced women are the most bitter, evil, vengeful, vindictive monsters in the history of the World.

                                                                              They hate all men and wish that all of them were in jail.

                                                                              Put them on a jury and they'll convict a man of any crime if they hear that he has cheated on his wife.

                                                                              They also won't convict a woman who murdered her husband, if he cheated. They'll hang a jury for months, all by themselves if they have to.

                                                                              I've seen it a hundred times. As soon as they hear he cheated, they'll convict him of killing Casper the Friendly Ghost.

                                                                                Reply#50 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 7:31 PM EST

                                                                                Geesh............lighten up.

                                                                                  #50.1 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 9:25 PM EST

                                                                                  Go get some counseling, hate is an ugly thing and will eat away at your very being.

                                                                                  Enjoy you life and move on mtr89123

                                                                                    #50.2 - Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:48 PM EST
                                                                                    Reply
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