By Josh Hoffman/102.9 The Drive

Legal challenge delays sentencing in polygamy case

Aug 22, 2017 | 7:43 AM

CRANBROOK — It might be some time before two men from the isolated religious sect known as Bountiful are sentenced.

Winston Blackmore and James Oler were found guilty of practicing polygamy late last month. The B.C. Prosecution Service explained Blackmore has filed an application to challenge the proceedings and expects Oler to support some aspects of it.

The Prosecution Service said it does not anticipate setting dates for sentencing in the immediate future.

Blackmore is said to have at least 24 different wives. Oler married five different women between 1983 and 2005. Marriage records, personal records and expert testimony, including a former wife of Winston Blackmore, were entered as evidence during the 12-day trial.

The precedent setting decision follows a decades long legal battle after RCMP first looked into the isolated community of Bountiful in the 1990s. Following the verdict in July, Blackmore said the only thing he’s guilty of is living his religion and that he planned on challenging the decision.

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The matter is expected to return to the courts to set a hearing date for the challenge.

Sentencing will not occur until the challenge has been ruled upon.