A 32-year-old East Wenatchee, WA woman has entered an Alford plea to a charge of bigamy. Lorena R. Juarez, also known as Lorena Williams, was sentenced to 15 days in jail Wednesday in Chelan County Superior Court.
Bigamy is having more than one spouse. An Alford plea means she does not admit guilt, but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction. Ten days may be served on work release or electronic home monitoring. She must also pay $800 in fines and fees.
According to court documents, Juarez married a man in November 2007 before she was divorced from another man. Her second husband died a few months after they were married, and she withdrew about $17,000 from a checking account they shared and a memorial fund set up by her husband’s employer; she also received about $1,800 in life insurance benefits. That man’s children contacted police claiming her marriage to him was invalid and she was not entitled to the money. Juarez’s divorce to the first man was finalized a month after her second husband died.
Chelan County Superior Court handled the bigamy case because the second marriage took place in Chelan County. However, Douglas County Superior Court will settle the dispute about monetary damages since they occurred in Douglas County, according to court records.
A 32-year-old East Wenatchee, WA woman has entered an Alford plea to a charge of bigamy. Lorena R. Juarez, also known as Lorena Williams, was sentenced to 15 days in jail Wednesday in Chelan County Superior Court.
Posted by: Washington State Divorce Laws | 04/29/2009 at 09:52 AM