infoTECH Feature

March 21, 2011

Man Arrested for Polygamy Thanks to Wedding Pics on Facebook

Oh, Facebook (News - Alert) users. Have we all not learned our lesson yet? Be ye not so stupid and post what could be incriminating photos on your profile. Then again, no one ever figured wedding photos were harmful -- until now. 

A 34-year old Michigan man was arrested last week on polygamy charges and he was caught thanks to his wedding photos, which he posted on his Facebook profile. Richard Barton Jr., of Grand Rapids showcased pictures of his recent happy nuptials but simply forgot one important detail: his first wife to whom he was still legally married had access to said photos.

Adina Quarto, with whom Barton has a six-year-old son, called the police after seeing Barton’s posting on the popular social networking site. Shortly thereafter, Barton was arrested.

"I didn't think he deserved to get away with it," said Quarto in an interview with Michigan Live. "I'm not a bitter person and I'm not trying to destroy the guy. If he wants to start a new life, more power to him, but he got married when he shouldn't have gotten married."

According to Quarto, Barton didn’t feel like going through the legalities of the divorce process, saying that he wanted to “ignore the situation” and “pretend” that Quarto “didn’t exist.”

Barton isn’t without a tarnished history. His first marriage was one of the reasons he walked into trouble; however it was because Barton had absconded parole from a stint in Michigan jail and moved to Rhode Island to be with Quarto. He was arrested in Rhode Island, did more time in Michigan and was once again released in 2009.

The two had been in communication during his time behind bars and Barton swears he signed divorce papers whilst locked up back in 2007. Quarto claims the paperwork was never sent.


Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.

Edited by Tammy Wolf
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