Lehi [Utah] police Lt. Darren Paul has said the probe was triggered by the reality television show "Sister Wives," which features 41-year-old advertising salesman Kody Brown and his four wives, 13 children and three stepchildren.
The TLC program premiered Sunday -- See video: Hollywood Mainstreams Polygamy in TV Series
UPDATE 3/19/11: Sister Wives in tears over police`s polygamy probe
-- From "Police Investigating Sister Wives Stars for Felony Bigamy" by Mike Fleeman, Politico 9/27/10
"At the conclusion of the investigation, the evidence will be forwarded to the Utah County Attorney's Office for review and possible prosecution," says Lt. Darren Paul.
Police acknowledged that publicity over the show's announcement prompted the case. Bigamy is a third-degree felony in Utah but is rarely investigated.
"If we raise productive, contributing members of society who are moral and ethical, that's our final goal, whatever their path is," says Janelle, 40, who has six children with Kody.
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From "Utah Police Investigate Plural Family for Bigamy" by Jennifer Dobner, Associated Press 9/28/10
The Browns have said they hoped that the reality show's peek into their lives would help broaden the public's understanding of plural families.
Utah last prosecuted a polygamist for bigamy in 2001. Tom Green, who was married to five women and drew the attention of Utah authorities after promoting his lifestyle on national TV talks shows, was convicted on bigamy, criminal nonsupport and child rape charges. He spent six years in prison and was released in 2007.
The Utah attorney general's office has investigated the state's secretive polygamous communities, but focused its efforts on cases involving allegations of abuse, sexual assault and fraud, not bigamy.
"It has been our office's position not to pursue cases of bigamy between consenting adults," the attorney general's spokesman, Scott Troxel, said Tuesday. "We want to use our resources wisely."
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