A Florida man who said “I do” a few too many times has now been sentenced for felony bigamy.
Henry Betsey Jr. received two years of probation on July 31 after being found guilty of being married to three different women simultaneously, according to ABC Action News and WKRC. As reported by Deccan Herald, none of the women were aware of one another, and Betsey was able to avoid detection by marrying them in separate counties.
The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to the bigamy charge in May, ABC Action News reported. He appeared at that hearing with a new girlfriend, but showed up alone at his sentencing—where he faced all three of his wives in court.
“He sold the perfect person, when in reality, he was none of those things,” said Tonya Betsey, who discovered her husband’s web of lies by searching his name in various county records. Her investigation revealed he was also legally married to Michele Betsey and Brandy Betsey.
“She found me and she messaged me, and I had no idea that she was actually still married to him,” Michele told ABC Action News earlier this year.
During the sentencing, all three women shared how they had met Betsey on dating apps and married him at local courthouses. “He said all the right things,” Brandy told the court.
According to Deccan Herald, Betsey’s dating profile claimed he was “looking for a beautiful woman who understands the ups and downs of life, is trustworthy and no games.”
The women said the deception began in November 2020 when Betsey married Tonya after meeting her on Tinder. He later married Brandy in February 2022 after they connected on Stir, and then wed Michele in November 2022, just three weeks after meeting her on Match.com, according to WKRC. They told the court they believed Betsey’s motivation was financial.
At his sentencing, Betsey offered an apology to the women, their families, and his own.
“I want to apologize to the ladies and I want to apologize to the court administration and to my family and friends that had to be involved in this, because ultimately this is something that I didn’t wish to be part of,” he told the court, according to ABC Action News.
The judge sentenced him to two years of probation, sparing him jail time but classifying him as a convicted felon.
His wives, however, were unconvinced by his apology.
“I’m sure that it was only said because it was recommended by his attorney to say,” Tonya told ABC Action News in an email after the hearing. “Do I think he has any remorse? Absolutely not.”
PEOPLE reviewed Hernando County inmate records showing Betsey was released from custody the same day as his sentencing. According to ABC Action News, Judge Merritt also ordered him to stay off social media and have no contact with his three wives.
