Akuku Danger: Former bishop found with 24 women, 149 children accused

A man with 24 women and 149 children convicted of polygamy was sentenced to six months of house arrest.

Nine of Winston Blackmore's wives were under 18, and four were 15 when he married them, according to Edmonton Sun.

There were tears in the crowded audience room as parents kissed as the phrase of the former religious leader was read.

my religion and that's all I'm saying today because I've never denied that, "said Blackmore after the verdict, reports CBC News

"Twenty-seven years and tens of millions of dollars later, we have always proved that we have never denied.

" I have never denied my faith. That's what we expected.

James Oler, who was part of the same religious sect, had joined the court at the age of 61.

Oler was convicted of polygamy by having five wives. A 15-year-old child and a 17-year-old child at the time of marriage.

He allegedly fathered 13 children.

The 54-year-old man was sentenced to three months of house arrest in Alberta, with a few exceptions. Justice Sheri Ann Donegan described men as law-abiding citizens who practice polygamy because of their religious beliefs.

They are former bishops of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints,

Their sentences will be followed by 12 months probation, with 150 hours of community service for Blackmore and 75 hours for Oler , CBC reported. Winston Blackmore spawned 149 children [19659017Blackmoreawomen24womenbetween1990and2014circledocuments

Oler married five women between 1993 and 2009, according to court documents

The conviction marks the first convictions for polygamy in Canada in more than a century. 19659003] According to Canadian law, the maximum penalty for polygamy is five years imprisonment

Men have already pleaded not guilty, Blackmore's lawyer arguing that the law on polygamy violated religious rights members of the Bountiful community. The BC government suspects a lawsuit since the early 1990s against members of the Bountiful community of 1,500 residents

. Despite multiple police investigations into allegations of community violence, he has refused to pursue polygamy charges because of his fears that it would violate the constitutional freedom of religion.

In 2011, the Supreme Court of British Columbia confirmed The laws prohibiting polygamy were constitutional and did not violate religious freedom.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in Utah abandoned polygamy in 1890.

The church sued Blackmore in 2014 for using its brand name, citing damaged reputation.