- 1996-99: Tom Green and five women he claims as spiritual wives appear on such TV tabloid talk shows as "The Jerry Springer Show" and "Sally Jessy Raphael." The nation is introduced to Utah's most outspoken polygamist.
October 1999: Green tells "Dateline NBC" he is married to more than one woman. The show prompts Juab County Attorney David O. Leavitt to launch an investigation.
April 2000: Leavitt files felony charges of bigamy, criminal nonsupport and child rape against Green in 4th District Court.
May 2000: Leavitt asks the court to declare Green's December 1986 legal marriage to wife Linda Kunz valid. The couple officially divorce for Green to marry other women.
July 2000: Fourth District Judge Donald Eyre rules that Green is legally married to Linda Kunz, opening the way for Leavitt to prosecute Green for bigamy. Eyre calls Green's attempts to marry — and subsequently divorce — each wife a "systematic scheme" to live with more than one woman. Green pleads innocent to a charge of child rape, filed because Kunz was 13 when the duo wed.
September 2000: Green's defense attorney, John Bucher, challenges the statute of limitations on the rape charge, claiming time had run out to prosecute on the 14-year-old rape case.
May 14, 2001: Reporters from around the world descend on Provo's 4th District Court for Tom Green's four-day trial for bigamy and criminal nonsupport.
May 18, 2001: After three hours of deliberation, a jury of five women and three men find Green guilty on all counts of bigamy and criminal nonsupport.
Aug. 24, 2001: Green is sentenced to serve five years in prison. He also is told to pay $78,000 in restitution for welfare provided to his five wives and two dozen children.
Jan. 9, 2002: Fourth District Judge Guy Burningham rules the statute of limitations on the child-rape charge had not expired. Green is ordered to stand trial on child-rape charge.
April 24, 2002: Judge Eyre strikes down Green's claim that Utah lacks jurisdiction because his marriage to Linda Kunz took place in Mexico. Green asks for a bench trial in an effort to speed up the appeals process.
June 24, 2002: After a half-day trial, Judge Eyre takes 30 minutes to find Green guilty of child rape, a first-degree felony. Green is sentenced to 5 years to life in prison for the charge.