Update: Alleged Grand Rapids polygamist told second wife he was divorced, police say

GRAND RAPIDS –When Richard Leon Barton Jr., 34, got married to a Grand Rapids woman last July, police say there was a big problem: his first wife, living in Rhode Island.

Barton failed to divorce his current wife, according to State Police Detective Sgt. Denise Bentley.

The Rhode Island woman thought something seemed odd when her husband, whom she married in 2004 after the two had met about a year earlier online, defriended her on Facebook, police said.

The Rhode Island woman contacted State Police and told them that one day in 2004, Barton did not return home from work and it turned out he had been arrested.

Barton was convicted of home invasion in 2000 and uttering and publishing in 2001. He did time in prison and was released, but fled to Rhode Island, violating his parole, police said.

After spending more time behind bars, Barton was released from prison in October of 2009.

Police say the Rhode Island wife said she and Barton discussed divorce, but it never happened.

The New England woman did some investigating online and told police she found her husband's happy wedding photos with the Grand Rapids woman on the pages of Barton's friends and family.

He was charged with polygamy, which carries a potential 4-year maximum sentence and was arraigned today in Muskegon District Court.

He could face more time as a repeat offender, not to mention an alleged repeat husband.

E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GRPBarton