'Sister Wives' Family on Bigamy Investigation: 'Risk Worth Taking'

By Zach Dionne Posted Sep 28th 2010 03:26PM

'Sister Wives' Family Investigated for Felony Bigamy

The stars of TLC's new reality show 'Sister Wives' are the subject of an investigation by police in Lehi, Utah. The series features salesman Kody Brown, his four wives and their 13 children and stepchildren.

In response to the investigation, the Brown family issued the following statement to PopEater: "We are disappointed in the announcement of an investigation, but when we decided to do this show, we knew there would be risks. But for the sake of our family, and most importantly, our kids, we felt it was a risk worth taking."

Police told PEOPLE Monday they were looking into the family's situation before the show's Sunday premiere, and confirmed that publicity surrounding the series prompted the legal curiosity.

"At the conclusion of the investigation, the evidence will be forwarded to the Utah County Attorney's Office for review and possible prosecution," Lt. Darren Paul said.

According to PEOPLE, bigamy is classified as a third-degree felony in Utah but isn't often investigated.

See a clip from 'Sister Wives':

The family is content with their lifestyle, nontraditional -- and legally punishable -- as it may be. "If we raise productive, contributing members of society who are moral and ethical, that's our final goal, whatever their path is," says Janelle Brown, 40, who has six children with Kody.

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Comments

(235)

Tuesday 28 September

By Maureen Perkins

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

What a waste of time .. they could all live together WITHOUT getting married and it would not be illegal.How stupid is that ... if they are happy
no-one should interfere. It would be different if the women were there under duress .. why are the police spending public money on something that is kind happy and peaceful.. go look for criminals..

By sj

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Enjoy your miserable life.

By LindaDe

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He That is Without Sin??? Mat 7:1 Judge not lest ye be judged.
I don't condone the actions but are you without sin?

By kelley

bstill= bigot
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

Maybe your the freak of nature

By Pollyann

You know I find this interesting. Not saying I agree with their life style. But who am I to judge anyone? You see alot worse situations that kids are growing up in with just one mom and a dad. I mean the living conditions and abuse some kids have to grow up in are horrible. To me I feel if the children are fed and clothed and loved and nurtured, are there not bigger fish to fry?

By d

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Well if you go on TV and brag about doing something that is at least for now against the law of course you are going to be investigated. I don't really care what they do or how many kids they got as long as they are not using welfare to feed, cloth, and house them. In the end, we are only judged by God.

By vicki

you are so right,god is the only one that will be doing any judging,if thats what you belive in,and hes only married by law to the first lady,hes just having this big afair in front of her,and i guess shes ok with it,so i wont be judging anyone,i couldnt do it,the only thing i would like to know is,why is it ok with a man with many wives,but a women doesnt take many husbands,

By will

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Dear bstill...gays are freaks of nature?..Take a look at what the straight world procreated........including you!

By lmaar2

To the person who said gay people can't reproduce so they shouldn't be allowed to marry, does that apply to heterosexuals who are unable to have biological children? Should they be banned from marrying too?

By PamTX

Even a clinically infertile hetero couple has a chance. A homo couple has zero. Nature rewards homosexuality, incest and inbreeding by reducing their chance to survive and add to the gene pool. You can be tolerant without approving. Homosexuality, I am positive, does great things for the individual and that is there right but it does nothing positive for society.

By Laura

Pam, you are mistaken. A gay couple has as many changes as an infertile couple, such as invetro, surragate, and such. Just saying.

By summer

Garbage in garbage out! This "reality TV" thing is getting old!

By Linda

THAT IS JUST WRONG. SORRY, BUT CALL ME OLD FASHIONED AND WITH MORALS. THAT IS SICK. AND I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT TVLAND IS GOING TO BE PUTTING THAT ON TV FOR US TO SEE. WHY? WHY IN HELLS NAME DO WE NEED TO SEE THIS DISGUSTING ACTIVIVTY BETWEEN ONE MAN AND FOUR OR FIVE WOMEN AND TONS OF KIDS RUNNING AROUND WITH ONE DAD AND FOUR MOMS??????? IT IS SICK AND TWISTED AND WRONG. SORRY, BUT THIS MAKES ME SICK!ANYTHING FOR RATINGS EVEN IF IT IS NOT MORAL OR RIGHT....RIGHT TVLAND? YOU SUCK FOR PUTTING THIS CRAP ON TV!

By Hi, Shell

Why isn't there a "religion" that allows 1 woman to marry numerous men? Hey, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? If the men can't take the heat, then get out of the kitchen-permanately.
Oh, I forgot....it's a pe**s thing!!!!

Actually there are a few tribes in the Himalayas that do just that.

And I do NOT condone "multiple" wives/partners, whatever you want to call them. The children will be messed up & will probably need help. Especially the male children. You remember them being thrown out of the Mormons (at age 17) because there wasn't enough females to go around? (there was a special about that).
ONE husband & ONE wife!!!

By Di

I think TLC should be investigated for facilitating the shameless exploitation of innocent children by a bunch of marginally intelligent, deviant and money hungry adults. The Gosselin kids, the Duggars...sweet Michelle speaks lovingly of her family but I have never even seen her pick up that poor infant Jordyn who is dragged through each episode by a small child not capable of caring for a baby and an infant struggling for life because of the irresponsibility of her parents and now 12 children living out a degenerate lifestyle for the world to see. These despicable people should have kept this lifestyle private because it is nothing short of sickening...Where the hell are the authorities...It's not only beating that counts as abuse..

Yes because it is much better a child go to daycare while mommy works than for her not to be carried around by mommy all day. At least in a large family where the older children are expected to help with the care of the other children, the bond between siblings is great and the childcare is stable, not a revolving door of careless, minimum wage workers.

By funnything

I agree, and Gosslin was against them giving the Octomon a show to pay to take care of her children. Please, don't say there is no father in the picture and kate Gosslin had a husband, they all are in it for the money and they all made the choice to have multiple births through science.

By vcrozas

You and I must not watch the same show. I've seen Michelle hold the baby most of the time. I see an independent family with children taking care of each other and having responsibility. These people pay their own way, they appear to live a much stauncher secular life basically fundamentalist different from me but none the less their children appear a lot more well mannered, educated, able to handle difficult situations than most of the little angels I see at the ballpark, soccerfiled, beauty pagents etc. I applaude then they pay their way and their children have ethics not senses of entitlement.

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