US man with five wives is convicted of bigamy

A man who has five wives and 29 children has been found guilty of bigamy in the United States' first major polygamy case in nearly five decades.

Tom Green, 52, was convicted on four counts of bigamy and one count of criminal failure to pay child support. He faces up to 25 years in prison and 25,000 dollars (£17,400) in fines.

His lawyer vowed to appeal. Green remains free on bail until the sentencing hearing. The case could open the door to future prosecutions - although Utah banned plural marriage in its constitution in order to become a state, it has no specific anti-polygamy law.

Prosecutors combined the state's bigamy law and its definition of common-law marriage in prosecuting Green, who lives with his five wives and children on a barren patch of the Utah desert.

Outside court Green called Utah state officials "spineless".

Alluding to the fact that many in Utah, including prosecutor David Leavitt, have polygamist ancestors, Green said: "I think the leaders in Utah have turned their back on their heritage."

In their closing arguments, prosecutors said Green had a scheme to marry several young women, and he let nothing stand in his way.

But his lawyer John Bucher argued the state was going after Green because he embarrassed Utah in the national media.