The Chatham-Kent Courthouse. (File photo by Jake Kislinsky)The Chatham-Kent Courthouse. (File photo by Jake Kislinsky)
Chatham

Chatham Man Found Guilty Of Rare Bigamy Charge

A 45-year-old Chatham man has been found guilty of bigamy.

Timothy Mielczarek, was convicted of the offence at the Chatham-Kent Court House on Monday, and will be sentenced on February 15 at 1:30pm.

The Justice court ruled that the Chatham man married his second wife while he was still married to his first.  The court heard that Mielczarek lied to his second wife about being divorced.

Crown Attorney James Boonstra says it's an uncommon offence so he has to research what type of sentencing he'll ask for next week.

Mielczarek's ex-wife and plaintiff says she's relieved it's over and adds this case has had a lasting impact on her family.

Mielczarek was charged with bigamy back in 2013.

Defence Attorney Dave Jacklin says his client is disappointed but "is prepared to accept the verdict of the court."

"Bigamy is not an offence that's very common, I think the last case in this county was sometime in the 1900s," Jacklin says, adding that it's difficult to say what the appropriate sentencing should be because the case is so rare.

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