A man with a history of sexual offenses was taken into custody shortly before his wedding ceremony. Bradley D. Armstrong, aged 66, was on the verge of tying the knot when law enforcement officers intervened and apprehended him. Authorities claim that Armstrong, previously convicted of child molestation in 2002, failed to disclose his status as a sexual predator on his marriage license application. Providing false information in such applications constitutes a serious offense in Indiana, where the incident occurred.
After Armstrong’s arrest, concerns arose, prompting a court to file a motion to halt his marriage to a 22-year-old bride with multiple disabilities. Heather Stevens, a county clerk, initiated action upon discovering that the bride, deemed legally incompetent, was pregnant. The bride, who faces a range of medical challenges such as autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, ADHD, functional movement disorder, delayed speech, and depression, remains unnamed.
Stevens, usually uninvolved in such matters, decided to intervene due to her worries for the vulnerable woman. She highlighted several warning signs surrounding the proposed marriage, including the groom’s omission of his sex offender status. In 2021, a court deemed the woman incompetent, appointing her parents as legal guardians, as reported by PEOPLE magazine.
While the sentiments of the bride’s parents towards the relationship remain unknown, Stevens emphasized the court’s authority as the ultimate decision-maker in such cases, capable of superseding parental choices. Presently, Stevens confirmed that her office would not issue a marriage license to Armstrong and the 22-year-old, as state law prohibits the issuance of licenses to individuals legally declared incompetent.
Armstrong was released on a $750 (£553) cash bond the day following the scheduled 17th March wedding.