AUBURN, INDIANA — Kirk Smith, 30, Fort Jennings, pleaded guilty to
charges of bigamy in DeKalb County Superior Court, Auburn, Indiana. A
jury trial scheduled for June 17 was canceled and the judge ordered a
pre-sentence investigation to be completed by July 8. Sentencing was
scheduled for July 13 at 3 p.m.
According to court documents from
the Superior Court, Det. Brady N. Thomas of the Dekalb County Sheriff’s
Department, started an investigation into the case Nov. 20, 2018. He
spoke to Krysta Smith who stated she and Kirk Smith received a marriage
license from Noble County Indiana and were married in Allen County on
June 4, 2012. Krysta reported Kirk Smith moved out of their residence a
year later.
“Krysta said they discussed getting a divorce, but neither one of them had the money to pay for it,” the court document stated.
On
Nov. 19, 2018. Krysta Smith stated she spoke to a Leslie Smith asking
her how long she was married to Kirk Smith. Krysta told her they were
still legally married. Leslie Smith told Krysta she and Kirk Smith got
married on Nov 15, 2018.
A public records check showed that a
Leslie Barton married Kirk Smith on Nov. 15, 2018. There were no records
found of a divorce that was filed between Kirk Smith and Krysta Smith.
Thomas
interviewed Kirk Smith who admitted he and Krysta Smith separated but
never divorced because of cost. He admitted he and Leslie Barton got
married and moved to Fort Jennings, Ohio.
“Kirk said he knew he was still married to Krysta when he married Leslie,” the documents stated.
Last
year, Kirk Smith was charged with domestic violence while living in
Fort Jennings. The charge was dropped July 9. 2019 due to the Indiana
indictment.