Indiana Authorities Arrest Groom on Felony Charge Moments Before Scheduled Courthouse Wedding Ceremony

Bradley Armstrong was arrested at an Indiana courthouse for allegedly hiding his status as a sex offender on a marriage license application.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Just Jared

A Sudden Interruption at the Altar

The La Porte County Courthouse became the scene of an unexpected law enforcement intervention this week as deputies moved to arrest a man seconds before his wedding ceremony was set to begin. Bradley D. Armstrong was confronted by Sergeant Swanson and Deputy Ryan on Tuesday, March 17, as he stood ready to exchange vows. The Sheriff’s Office later characterized the timing of the arrest as a necessary step following the issuance of a felony warrant, effectively halting the proceedings and placing the groom in handcuffs before the marriage could be finalized.

The Nature of the Felony Allegations

According to the criminal complaint, the arrest was the culmination of an investigation into Armstrong’s legal documentation. Authorities allege that Armstrong committed a Level 6 Felony by providing false information on his marriage license application. Specifically, the investigation found that Armstrong failed to disclose his status as a convicted and classified "Sexually Violent Predator" on the official paperwork. Under Indiana law, individuals on the Sex and Violent Offender Registry are required to provide accurate background details when applying for civil documents, a step that investigators claim was intentionally bypassed.

A Longstanding History on the Registry

The legal requirements governing Armstrong's conduct date back to 2002, when he was first convicted on charges that mandated his inclusion on the state's sex offender registry. Official records indicate that he has been registered in La Porte County since 2004 as a lifetime offender. The Sheriff’s Office used the incident to highlight the importance of registry compliance, noting that the "False Information in Marriage License Application" charge was a direct result of Armstrong’s attempt to obscure his past legal status from the public record.