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TAMPA — Two years after the so-called "Facebook Bigamist" made headlines, it's not known whether John France has one wife or two. But France and one of them are still fighting over the kids.
Alleged wife No. 1 asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Daniel Sleet to shake things up on Tuesday. Lynda France said John France has allowed her to visit their two boys for only 15 hours in two years — ever since she discovered Facebook photos of him exchanging I Do's with another woman at Disney World.
At the hearing Tuesday, Sleet scolded the couple for making faces at each other.
"This isn't kindergarten," he said.
Lynda France lives in Ohio. John France lives in Tampa with wife No. 2, Amanda, and his two young sons.
John France's lawyer, Gary Williams, said John and Lynda already had been living separately for a year when Lynda found the Facebook photos.
Back in 2005, John and Lynda exchanged vows before a priest in Italy. But John France contends the marriage was never legally recorded. He married Amanda at Disney World in 2008. France dressed as Prince Charming.
In two weeks, Lynda and John France will once more argue the legitimacy of their Italian marriage before an Ohio judge, as they have been arguing in both states. They have to know if they're really married before they can divorce.
Here in Florida, they continue to argue over the kids. Although they signed a visitation agreement last year that allows her to see the boys two days every other week, she said he has made that difficult.
Under the agreement, she must visit them at John France's home, under his watch. She complained that he rejects the visitation dates she offers.
His lawyer argued Tuesday that she is mentally unstable and first should be evaluated by a psychologist. The judge ordered both of them to get evaluated.
Sleet also got John France to allow three visits every two weeks because she has to come all the way from Ohio. John France agreed to pay her expenses for this week's trip.
With that, the ball was kicked back to a judge in Ohio.
John Barry can be reached at jbarry@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3383.
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