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“What he did was not a mistake. It was a deliberate decision, and decisions have consequences”, asserted before the judge one of the women who fell victim to the deceit of Henry Betsey Jr., a man from Florida who managed to marry three different women at the same time, and left the courtroom without setting foot in jail.
The case, which shocked the United States when it came to light in early May of this year, has once again generated outrage following the final sentence of two years of probation, without a single day in prison, beyond the eight days already served after his arrest. This occurred despite Betsey pleading guilty to the felony of bigamy, reported ABC Action News.
Betsey met her three victims on dating sites like Match.com. In just two years, she managed to marry each of them in different counties in Florida, without divorcing or annulling her previous marriages. A criminal game protected by a legal loophole that prevents marriage records from being cross-referenced between counties.
If the counties had spoken, it would have saved me a lot of pain, money, and stress, lamented Tonya Betsey, one of the ex-wives, who uncovered the truth while researching Henry's name in various court records. She was the one who alerted the other two women.
I am still his wife. I am not here just as a betrayed woman; I speak for all of us, said Michele Betsey, another victim, in front of the Brooksville court. As part of her impact statement, she demanded that measures be taken to prevent other women from experiencing the same.
Today, Michele is leading a campaign to promote a law that would establish a state database to prevent simultaneous multiple marriages. “We can learn from this. We can implement protective measures for other women,” she stated.
The sentence that never arrived
Despite having been arrested for an assault case in Virginia after pleading guilty in Florida, and not showing any real signs of remorse according to the victims, Judge Charles Merritt Jr. explained that the law limited his options for imposing a harsher sentence, as Betsey had no prior criminal record.
As part of the punishment, Betsey must undergo a mental health evaluation, participate in an aggression intervention program, stay away from social media, and have no contact with her three ex-wives.
“I'm sure her apology was an act. She did it because her lawyer asked her to. Remorse? Not at all!”, declared Michele, who still bears the pain and shame of having shared her life with a man who turned out to be a legal and emotional imposter.
“Although it wasn't a prison sentence, the fact that he is a convicted criminal speaks volumes. It's our small victory,” he concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Bigamy Case in Florida
What was the sentence for Henry Betsey Jr. for bigamy?
Henry Betsey Jr. was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to the felony of bigamy. He was not given a prison sentence, even though his ex-wives were hoping for a harsher punishment.
How did Henry Betsey Jr. manage to marry three women at the same time?
Henry Betsey Jr. married in different counties of Florida, taking advantage of a legal loophole that prevents marriage records from being cross-referenced between counties. In this way, he was able to maintain three simultaneous marriages without local authorities detecting it.
What measures are being proposed to prevent cases of bigamy in Florida?
Michele Betsey, one of Henry's ex-wives, is leading an initiative to create a state database that prevents simultaneous multiple marriages. The proposal aims to close the legal loophole that allowed Betsey to marry multiple women without being detected.
Why didn't the judge impose a prison sentence on Henry Betsey Jr.?
Judge Charles Merritt Jr. explained that the law limited his options for imposing a harsher sentence because Betsey had no prior criminal record. Although the victims were hoping for a prison sentence, the ruling was limited to probation and other restrictions.
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