Clinton Subcliff and Jodi Albers exchanged wedding vows in Clinton on Feb. 29, Leap Day. But prosecutors say before they leapt, they should have looked a little closer at whether Subcliff’s divorce from Devan Subcliff had been finalized.
Clinton Subcliff, 28, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of bigamy, a serious misdemeanor, and an unrelated count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. According to a police affidavit, Devan Subcliff called the Clinton Police Department on March 4 and said her current husband had married Albers on Feb. 29, even though a hearing in their divorce proceeding had been scheduled for March 7.
Clinton Subcliff told police in an interview that he had married Albers on Feb. 29 and that he believed his divorce was finalized, although he could not produce a copy of the divorce decree.
Assistant Scott County Attorney Bob Weinberg, who was assigned to handle the case because someone connected to the case has a close relative who works in the Clinton County Courthouse, said Subcliff would have had to prove he believed his divorce was final to defend himself against the charge.
Weinberg said bigamy cases are extremely rare in Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, there were 10 bigamy convictions in Iowa from 1999 to 2007.
Subcliff received a deferred judgment on both charges and will be sentenced to probation, Weinberg said. He also could face a civil penalty.
Subcliff’s divorce has since become final, and his marriage to Albers is legal, according to Iowa statute, Weinberg said.
Subcliff could not be reached for comment, and his attorney, Gary Rolfes, declined to comment.
By Steven Martens of The Quad City Times.
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