October 18, 2012
Iowa Court Official Accused of Gay Marriage Fraud
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
IOWA CITY, Iowa - An Iowa court official is accused of helping a same-sex couple from Florida to get a marriage certificate without stepping foot in the state.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says Grundy County Deputy Clerk of Court Brigitte Van Nice was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of forgery and one count of perjury.
A complaint says Van Nice received an online ordination last year allowing her to perform weddings. She started talking with two Florida men who were interested in getting married in Iowa, one of six states that allow same-sex marriage.
The complaint says Van Nice filed a false document in February claiming that she officiated their marriage and that two people witnessed it.
A message left for Van Nice wasn't returned early Thursday.
