Willis man ordered to pay $73K to woman indicted on bigamy

Mark Athans claims he and Charity Lenee Parchem, 42, were never legally married because, without his knowledge, she was married to several other men at the time he married her in South Dakota in August 2017. According to federal and state law, if a person is married to one person and then marries another, that additional marriage is not valid. less Mark Athans claims he and Charity Lenee Parchem, 42, were never legally married because, without his knowledge, she was married to several other men at the time he married her in South Dakota in August 2017. ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Willis man ordered to pay $73K to woman indicted on bigamy 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Willis man is facing jail time after he refused to pay $73,000 in court ordered spousal support to a woman who was indicted on bigamy charges earlier this year.

Mark Athans, 56, claims he and Charity Lenee Parchem, 42, were never legally married because, without his knowledge, she was married to several other men at the time he married her in South Dakota in August 2017. According to federal and state law, if a person is married to one person and then marries another, that additional marriage is not valid.

Athans believes since his marriage to Parchem was never valid, he should not be forced to pay her any support. He added County Court at Law 3 Judge Patrice McDonald has refused to consider the bigamy indictment and has continued to rule Athans must pay the support.

“I don’t understand,” he said. “I’m having to pay to hurt myself.”

In February, following an investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Parchem was indicted by a Montgomery County Grand Jury on one felony count of bigamy. Parchem is currently out on a $20,000 bond.

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Athans appeared before McDonald Tuesday who set a court date on the matter for Sept. 25.

“I order you to return that day,” McDonald told Athans.

Parchem’s attorney, Dallas-based Michael Rubin, could not be reached for comment.

Athans and Parchem met online through mutual friends in April 2016, court records show. Pachem told Athans she was divorced and the two began dating and ultimately became engaged.

“We seem to hit it off. She told me she was a nurse practitioner and helped take care of elderly patients,” Athans, who is also in the medical field, said.

The two were married in August 2017 in South Dakota. After the wedding, the two returned to Athans’ home in Willis.

However, according to Athans, his son began to research Parchem and learned she had a criminal history.

“Some things just didn’t add up,” Athans said. “He went and did a background check on her and found she had a criminal record. I never knew anything about that.

“I trusted someone I know I shouldn’t have.”

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After learning about here past and verifying the criminal record with Parchem’s parents, Athans filed for divorce just five months after the two were married. Since then, Athans has been living a nightmare.

“I feel totally betrayed,” Athans said adding if McDonald rules in favor of Parchem next month and he is jailed, he will lose his job and his ability to take care of his youngest son who is autistic. “I’m his only parent, his mother is deceased.”

“I’m up against a wall.”

Athans said McDonald has never asked about his family to consider the implications jail time would have.

“There is an easy solution to this problem,” Athans said. “Charity, show your divorce records.”