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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Texas judge orders defendant to marry girlfriend in 30 days – or go to jail | Texas judge orders defendant to marry girlfriend in 30 days – or go to jail |
| (5 months later) | |
| A judge has ordered a man on assault charges to get married - or spend 15 days in prison. | A judge has ordered a man on assault charges to get married - or spend 15 days in prison. |
| Josten Bundy, of Tyler, Texas, who was arrested after punching his girlfriend’s ex-partner, was given the ultimatum by Smith County Judge Randall Rogers, according to court documents obtained on Friday. | Josten Bundy, of Tyler, Texas, who was arrested after punching his girlfriend’s ex-partner, was given the ultimatum by Smith County Judge Randall Rogers, according to court documents obtained on Friday. |
| The judge gave him a stark choice: get married in 30 days or go to jail for 15 days. | The judge gave him a stark choice: get married in 30 days or go to jail for 15 days. |
| Bundy’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Elizabeth Jaynes, was in court as Judge Rogers popped the question. | Bundy’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Elizabeth Jaynes, was in court as Judge Rogers popped the question. |
| She told KLTV: “My face was so red, people behind me were laughing.” | She told KLTV: “My face was so red, people behind me were laughing.” |
| Under-pressure Bundy feared for his job if imprisoned and asked permission to call his employer, the Washington Post reported. | Under-pressure Bundy feared for his job if imprisoned and asked permission to call his employer, the Washington Post reported. |
| But the unorthodox justice refused the call, so Bundy agreed to apply for a marriage licence. | But the unorthodox justice refused the call, so Bundy agreed to apply for a marriage licence. |
| The couple, who were about a year into their relationship, had discussed marriage, but hoped for a white wedding sometime in the far future. | |
| But they ditched their dream, only giving relatives 18 days’ notice of the ceremony for fear of incurring the judge’s wrath. | But they ditched their dream, only giving relatives 18 days’ notice of the ceremony for fear of incurring the judge’s wrath. |
| Only a few close family members could make the wedding, last month, with Bundy’s dad and sisters noticeably absent. | Only a few close family members could make the wedding, last month, with Bundy’s dad and sisters noticeably absent. |
| Elizabeth wore a white tank top and blue skirt, a far cry from the white dress she wanted, and Bundy wore a blue polo shirt instead of his desired tuxedo. | Elizabeth wore a white tank top and blue skirt, a far cry from the white dress she wanted, and Bundy wore a blue polo shirt instead of his desired tuxedo. |
| Elizabeth told KLTV: “It just felt like we weren't going to be able to have the wedding we wanted | Elizabeth told KLTV: “It just felt like we weren't going to be able to have the wedding we wanted |
| “It was just going to be kind of pieced together. I didn't even have a white dress.” | “It was just going to be kind of pieced together. I didn't even have a white dress.” |
| Legal experts have questioned the validity of the probation conditions, which also included writing out Bible verses and attending counselling sessions. | Legal experts have questioned the validity of the probation conditions, which also included writing out Bible verses and attending counselling sessions. |
| Constitutional law attorney Blake Bailey told KLTV that forcing a couple to marry is illegal and that the sentence would have been struck down by a higher court. | Constitutional law attorney Blake Bailey told KLTV that forcing a couple to marry is illegal and that the sentence would have been struck down by a higher court. |
| He said: “To say you're not going to be criminally punished if you get married is way out of left field. | He said: “To say you're not going to be criminally punished if you get married is way out of left field. |
| “It sounds like the old days of shotgun weddings, but not even the judge is capable of enforcing what he thinks is best for some people in his court.” | “It sounds like the old days of shotgun weddings, but not even the judge is capable of enforcing what he thinks is best for some people in his court.” |