The man was married to 24 women Instead of five years of imprisonment Winston Blackmore received house arrest and 150 hours of community service. Also, Canada has considered a similar case is still one big family.

In Canada, condemned the 61-year-old Winston Blackmore for polygamy: the man was 24 the spouse. Some of them were minors. The Supreme court commuted the sentence instead of incarceration Winston will experience the house arrest and community service. For Canada this is the first time in the last hundred years, when citizens are prosecuted for polygamy.

The first time Blackmore officially married in 1975. With 24 women, nine of whom are under 18, and five – 15, the man signed the so-called “celestial” marriage. He had 149 children. In the courtroom were numerous relatives polygamist, who cheered and hugged after the judge ruled.

As it turned out, Blackmore belonged to a certain religious community, which once preached polygamy. Despite the fact that officially, to have more than one wife is prohibited in Canada, Winston did not consider it a crime.

“He made it clear that no sentence will keep him from the faith, – said the judge. – The concept of repentance in this context it is unclear because he may not feel remorse, that sees such a family.”

As it turned out, this is not the first case when Blackmore learned about the ban on polygamy. In 2011 he received the warning which, apparently, he found it necessary to ignore.

Moreover, Winston is a follower – 54-year-old James Oler. However, while the man “behind” from his opponent – he only has five wives. He too was on the dock and got slightly fewer hours under house arrest and community service.

Judge Donegan said that both men are law-abiding citizens and informed them there were no violations. Like Blackmore, Oler doesn’t feel guilty. “He does not feel any remorse in relation to his crime, as he believes that he did not know another way of life and does not see the actions of any harm or victims,” the judge told The Globe And Mail.