Travelling Georgia minister once accused of bigamy jailed again

A traveling Georgia minister who served two years in prison on bigamy charges for having eight wives has been jailed again on accusations of trying to marry even more.

Photo: Travelling Georgia minister once accused of bigamy jailed again

At least four women claim Bishop Anthony Owens, 35, proposed to them after being released from prison in November 2005. Officials say there is no evidence he divorced the eight previous wives.

A judge will decide whether he should go back to prison.

Owens, who turned himself in April 30, had no comment. But his new fiancйes are not keeping quiet.

Betty Dixon, 38, met him last March. "He was a slick talker," she said. "He told me God had sent him to me and I needed help."

Cheryl Selmon, 48, says Owens proposed to her last October. A month later, he proposed to Darlene Keeler, 42. Then he met 43-year-old Karen Ward and proposed to her.

"He said God gave him a message that he was going to move my family to California for a better life," Ward said. "I gave up my apartment. I took my children out of school. He said he is a real man of the Lord. But he is just a mess. I hate the day that I met him."

According to police reports, Owens' first marriage was in 1990. He said a misunderstanding of Mormon teachings led him to marry again in 1992, even though he was still married to his first wife. The he married again in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 (twice) and 2002.

Owens has said he did divorce some of the wives, but he cannot remember which ones.