A Springfield, PA man has pleaded not guilty to charges he allegedly committed bigamy by getting married to a woman in Ambler while still married to a North Carolina woman.
John A. Melchiorre Jr., 38, of the 300 block of Garden Road, waived his arraignment in Montgomery County Court and entered not guilty pleas to charges of bigamy, false swearing in an official proceeding and unsworn falsification in connection with a July 2008 incident.
By waiving his arraignment, Melchiorre did not have to appear before a judge for a formal reading of the charges lodged against him. Melchiorre, who remains free on bail, now faces a trial on the charges. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
If convicted of all the charges at trial, Melchiorre faces a possible maximum sentence of three to six years in state prison.
An investigation of Melchiorre began last August when a North Carolina woman contacted county detectives regarding bigamy allegations. The woman told detectives she married Melchiorre in August 1994 in North Carolina and that Melchiorre moved from their marital residence in June 2008.
The North Carolina woman told authorities she had recently learned that Melchiorre married again in Montgomery County while he was still married to her.
The investigation revealed that Melchiorre and his new bride-to-be applied for a marriage license at the county courthouse on July 30, 2008, according to a criminal complaint. When asked on the license application if he had any prior marriages, Melchiorre allegedly said he did not. Melchiorre also allegedly provided false information regarding his mother’s maiden name on the marriage license application, according to the arrest affidavit.
“The defendant knowingly falsified this document in an attempt to conceal his first marriage to the victim,” county Detective James Carbo wrote in the arrest affidavit.
The investigation revealed that Melchiorre and his second bride were married during an Aug. 9, 2008, wedding ceremony at Calvary United Methodist Church on Park Avenue in Ambler, court documents indicate.
By Carl Hessler, Jr. of The Times-Herald
Hang on one second. The "first wife" (actually, the only LEGAL wife in this situation) did not have knowledge of said "wedding" between Angela Wilson and accused on 8/8/08. John was fully aware that his marriage had not been fully dissolved when he married Angela Wilson. "First wife" was definitely not an accessory to any type of criminal act, and only had complete knowledge of said "wedding" when she was informed by the best man (who was a mutual friend)! Interception of said invitation did not occur. "Second wife" (or adulteress, in this case) had been romantically involved with accused for some time, all while he still resided with "first wife". Perhaps "second wife" was not aware that the accused was not legally divorced? Perhaps she knew and did not care? Maybe she is the one who is actually an accessory. It is a joke how stupid women always try to cast blame on the ex-wife, based on the false stories of the accused.
Posted by: Alice Siebel ("first wife's" sister | 11/08/2009 at 03:55 PM
Accused believed that he was divorced. Wedding was public with invitations going out to mutual friends of both accused and first wife. First wife had complete knowledge of wedding and also intercepted a letter regarding the wedding reception which included the date and time of wedding. She waited until after wedding to bring charges. First wife should be charged as an accessary and is not a victim. She is the one who filed for the divorce and is also the one who intercepted the remand letter sent to Mr. Melchiorre delaying the divorce. The Final divorce decree was signed in March 2009. First wife and her attorney was responsible for the delay. It is joke how vindictive women always try to look like victims.
Posted by: Angela Wilson | 09/01/2009 at 11:26 AM
Bigamy charges were dropped in June of 2009. Divorce decree had been held up by now ex-wife attorney. Remand letter had been sent to Mr. Melchiorre and had been intercepted by ex wife.
Posted by: Jervis | 07/24/2009 at 11:03 AM