A Florida man who said “I do” not one, but two too many times has been sentenced for his felony bigamy conviction.
Henry Betsey Jr. was sentenced to two years probation on July 31 after being convicted of being married to three separate women at the same time, ABC Action News and WKRC reported. The Deccan Herald reported that none of the women were aware Betsey was married to any of the other women, and that he married the women in separate counties, helping him avoid detection from the state as well.
Betsey, 50, pleaded guilty to the felony bigamy charge in May, according to ABC Action News. The outlet reported that he attended that court hearing with a new girlfriend by his side — but at his sentencing, he was along when he was confronted by all three women he’d married.
“He sold the perfect person, when in reality, he was none of those things,” said wife Tonya Betsey, who unraveled her husband’s deceptive plot when she began searching his name in county databases across the state, revealing he was still married to two other women: Michele Betsey and Brandy Betsey.
“She found me and she messaged me, and I had no idea that she was actually still married to him,” Michele told ABC Action News earlier this year.
At the sentencing, the wives all said they met Betsey on dating websites and married him at their local courthouses. “He said all the right things,” Brandy told the court.
According to the Deccan Herald, Betsey’s dating profile read: “Looking for a beautiful woman who understands the ups and downs of life, is trustworthy and no games.”
But the women told the court last week that Betsey’s own games began in November 2020 when he first married Tanya after meeting her on Tinder. Betsey then married Brandy in February 2022 after they met on Stir, and then tied a third knot with Michele in November 2022, three weeks after they met on Match.com, according to WKRC. The three women told the court they believed Betsey married them to gain access to their finances.
Betsey reportedly apologized to the three women and their families, as well as his, at his sentencing, ABC Action News reported.
“I want to apologize to the ladies and I want to apologize to the court administration and to my family and friends that had to be involved in this, because ultimately this is something that I didn’t wish to be part of,” the three-time husband told the court.
The judge sentenced him to two years probation, meaning Betsey avoids jail time but is still logged as a convicted felon.
Betsey’s wives didn’t buy his apology.
“I’m sure that it was only said because it was recommended by his attorney to say,” Tonya told ABC Action News in an email after her husband’s sentencing. “Do I think he has any remorse? Absolutely not.”
Hernando County inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE showed Betsey was released from custody on July 31 after his sentencing. ABC Action News reported that Judge Merritt ordered Betsey to stay off social media and not have contact with his three wives.