Married man cited for ‘falling in love’

WACO, Texas -- A man who tied the knot with his girlfriend in Las Vegas before divorcing his estranged wife was surprised when he was charged with bigamy, saying he didn't think it "was going to be a real marriage."

James Byron Montgomery was indicted Wednesday. He remained free on bond Thursday.

"I used to drive a truck, and me and my fiancee, Tiffiney, were in Vegas and we just, like, got a wild hair," Montgomery told the Waco Tribune-Herald. "We knew it was against the law. We just really didn't feel married. We just, like, did it. I didn't really think it was going to be a real marriage."

But authorities knew differently. Montgomery, 53, of Moody, was arrested earlier this year after McLennan County deputies got a call from his third wife, who found out about the May 2007 nuptials, court documents show.

Montgomery said he filed for divorce that same month, although it's unclear whether it was before or after the ceremony at the Little White Wedding Chapel. He said he had been separated from his third wife about four months.

Montgomery says he wishes authorities "would go after real criminals instead of people who fall in love."