By Alric Lindsay
Caymanian pilot William Gonzales Bodden Jr, who previously flew long-haul flights for flydubai and is now with Breeze Airways in the United States, has been accused of bigamy, allegedly marrying a woman in the Cayman Islands and a woman in Florida. As explained by Kenneth Ferguson, crown counsel at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Bodden’s Cayman wife became aware of the second wife in Florida after making queries regarding her planned move from the Cayman Islands to Florida to join Bodden. The Cayman wife reported the matter to Cayman authorities.
Background
According to DPP crown counsel Ferguson, Bodden’s first marriage occurred in the Cayman Islands on December 12, 2012. He has a 10-year-old child from this union.
Reportedly, Bodden migrated to Dubai in April 2018 to work as a captain for flydubai.
The Cayman wife and his child were supposed to join Bodden in Dubai once he settled in.
However, due to certain issues regarding the child, the decision was made not to relocate the Cayman wife and the child to Dubai.
Subsequently, during COVID-19, Bodden and the Cayman wife agreed that he would relocate to the United States to be closer to the Cayman Islands.
However, according to allegations made by DPP counsel Ferguson, Bodden had other plans.
Allegedly, Bodden became involved with a female airline employee while he was living in Dubai who became pregnant for Bodden.
Allegedly, to facilitate the lady giving birth to Bodden’s baby in Dubai and to comply with Dubai’s laws, Bodden arranged for his cousin to marry Bodden’s baby’s mother.
Bodden then resigned from flydubai in March 2024 and relocated to St Cloud, Florida, to work with Breeze Airways.
Subsequently, the lady who had a child for him in Dubai moved to Florida and married him in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Meanwhile, the Cayman wife and Cayman daughter were making plans to move to Florida to join Bodden.
Reportedly, the Cayman wife required a “sponsor” to move to the United States with Bodden, and she was given the name of an immigration law firm to start the sponsorship process.
However, the Cayman wife discovered certain “discrepancies,” which led her to conduct research and learn about the Florida wife.
Subsequently, the Cayman wife lodged a complaint with the Cayman authorities.
Sentencing considerations
According to DPP counsel Ferguson, Bodden committed a serious offence and stands to serve a lengthy prison sentence. In these circumstances, Ferguson wanted Bodden’s passport withheld and his bail subject to conditions in the event he was granted bail by the Summary Court.
Bodden’s counsel, Prathna Bodden, disagreed with the approach taken by DPP counsel Ferguson.
She noted that the average sentences for bigamy have averaged about two to three months of custody. Therefore, DPP counsel Ferguson allegedly overstated the idea of Bodden serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Bodden’s lawyer noted that, in the circumstances, she would be applying for bail so that Bodden could be released to continue working as an airline pilot.
Bodden’s lawyer stressed that if he is not allowed bail, he will lose his job and homes in Florida and the Cayman Islands. Additionally, Bodden had at least one child to support.
Bodden’s lawyer argued that he was not a flight risk because his family is in the Cayman Islands, and he visits them on a regular basis. Practically speaking, however, he would need his passport to continue working and visiting.
Bodden’s lawyer emphasized that the circumstances would likely have a devastating effect on him, his employment, and his security clearance.
In any event, Bodden’s lawyer argued that he and his Cayman wife had been separated since he left for Dubai.
Judge’s decision
After hearing arguments from legal counsel, Magistrate Gunn refused to grant Bodden bail because she considered him a flight risk.
Magistrate Gunn said that the basis of her decision was that Bodden “has a fully-fledged life in the US” that Bodden is likely to return to if granted bail.
Magistrate Gunn added that this was the view even if Bodden had a substantial Cayman surety to guarantee his return to the Cayman Islands if he was granted bail.
Under the circumstances, Magistrate Gunn ordered that Bodden be prohibited from leaving the Cayman Islands, surrender his passport, and not apply for new travel documents. In addition, Bodden must not go within 100 yards of any airport.
Bodden is expected back in the Summary Court on January 21, 2025.
