Oklahoma woman pleads guilty to marrying her biological mother; gets 10 years probation

A 26-year-old Oklahoma woman who married her biological mother in 2016 pleaded guilty to incest charges Tuesday.

What's the story?

Misty Velvet Dawn Spann of Duncan, Oklahoma, married her mother, Patricia Ann Spann, 44, after the two were reunited in 2014 and reportedly "hit it off." Patricia Ann lost custody of Misty as well as two sons when they were children, Fox News reported.

Incest in Oklahoma is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The Stephens County District Court sentenced Misty Spann to 10 years probation, according to Tulsa World. She was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bench trial but admitted to marrying her mother.

Patricia Ann Spann also faces charges of incest and has pleaded not guilty. She is identified as Patricia Ann Clayton on their marriage license application. It's not the first time she has married one of her children.

Patricia Ann Spann also married her biological son in 2008. The marriage was annulled in 2010 after her son described it as incestuous, Tulsa World reported.

Patricia is expected to appear in court in January.

How were they discovered?

An Oklahoma Department of Human Services child welfare investigator discovered information that led her to believe that Misty and Patricia Spann's relationship was incestuous, according to Tulsa World.

The mother and daughter were attempting to adopt a child that they had guardianship over and believed their marriage would speed the process, Fox News reported.

“Misty and Patricia told me they got married to basically defraud the state in order to receive more benefits under health care. That sort of thing,” Detective Justin Smith told KOCO-TV.

The marriage was annulled Oct. 12 after Misty filed for an annulment "by reason of illegality and fraud,"  She said her mother told her she had received legal advice indicating that their marriage was legal because Patricia's name was no longer on Misty's birth certificate.