Two Texas women are still trying to wrap their minds around the arrest of a 57-year-old man who one knew as her ex-husband and the other knew as her current husband. What ties them together? An elaborate lie the man is accused of concocting that left everyone believing that he had been an intelligence officer for the military.
While some people in East Texas feel that his impersonation of a military officer was harmless, the effect this could have on his current and ex-wife could cause legal problems down the road.
According to investigators, there was a year-and-a-half overlap between his first and second marriage. While he had separated from his first wife in 2011, there had been no court approved legal separation before he married his second wife, nor had divorce papers even been filed at that time. To make matters worse, his second wife was under the assumption that the 57-year-old man was a military officer, while his first wife believed otherwise.
Although his first wife filed for divorce earlier this month after learning of his arrest, it’s not clear whether he had begun lying about his military service before their separation or not. If he had, she may have been under the impression that they would have to go through the military divorce process, including figuring out child support and child custody for their two daughters. In the case of his second wife, who is said to have believed that he was a military officer their entire marriage, may be surprised to learn that she will not receive the government compensations associated with a military marriage.
Also, there is the strong possibility that a Texas court judge could rule their marriage void because the man was not legally separated from his first wife at the time of the second marriage.
While the man’s actions may not have hurt the community at large, the legal situation he has not put these two women in may be lengthy and messy to sort out. The hope is that by seeking the help of skilled attorneys, they can sort out the complications this lie has created for their families.
Source: The Star-Telegram, “Fort Worth police say ‘Colonel Mike’ created an elaborate ruse about a military career,” Deanna Boyd, May 26, 2013