The Newark, NJ Law Director's Office is pursuing a charge of bigamy, a first-degree misdemeanor, against William C. Young Jr., 39.
According to court documents and investigative materials from Newark police, Young has been married five times since 1992 but only divorced twice.
One of his wives, a Kentucky woman Young wedded in 2000, told The Advocate on Wednesday she didn't learn of his other nuptials until earlier this year.
Young has pleaded not guilty and has demanded a jury trial, court documents show.
Newark police were alerted to a possible infraction by an investigator at the Licking County Domestic Relations Court, the police report reads.
Through investigation, police learned Williams was married in Licking County twice -- once in 1992 and once in 1995 -- and both of those unions were legally dissolved, according to the report.
However, police are alleging that a 1999 marriage in Fairfield County, a 2000 marriage in Nashville, Tenn., and his latest wedding in 2008 are all active in the eyes of the law.
The woman he married in Nashville, Lori Young, said Wednesday she learned her husband was married to two other women from one of his family members.
"Shocked, confused, amazed," Young said of her reaction. "Mostly shocked."
Lori Young, who said she is getting her marriage annulled, said the defendant would live with her in Kentucky off and on.
"Each time we'd kind of, I guess, break up, and then we'd get back together and then break up," she said, adding the last time she saw him was in 2005.
William Young told police he had started divorce proceedings for each of the last two marriages but had not followed up to make sure they were granted, according to the report.
To the best of her knowledge, Lori Young said she was unaware of any action by her husband to end their spousal relationship. But she added that is now her immediate intention.
"It's hard to believe at moments even though I'm going through it," she said. "It's just something I want to get resolved as soon as possible."
William Young did not respond to The Advocate's request to speak with him, and his latest wife declined to comment Wednesday.
Two others have been charged with bigamy since 2000, according to Licking County Municipal Court records.
One defendant was found guilty, fined $500 and sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Assistant Law Director Jon Diernbach said Wednesday that the law, which reads that an individual cannot be married to two people at the same time, does not escalate with additional spouses.
From The Newark Advocate
hi my name is ericka fatz previously known as Ericka Stambro I was adopted at the age of thirteen. Mr William C. Young Jr. is my father I am 21 years old now he was with my mother whose name is tina norris i was born in cambridge at guernsey memorial hospital but my father had been gone at that point my mom has made me aware of this info listed above and has also notified of him being my father.
Posted by: Ericka Fatz | 08/31/2011 at 02:48 AM
I am doing a documentary about bigamists. There is a fee involved.
[email protected]
Posted by: susan peabody | 11/15/2010 at 02:16 PM