Video of Police Officer Kissing Woman in Parking Lot Causes Waves on Social Media

A Maryland police officer is in hot water after a video circulated throughout social media recently.

Per WMAR News:

A video circulating online appears to show a uniformed Prince George’s County Police officer and woman kissing in public before getting in the backseat of a marked cruiser together.

According to WJLA-ABC7 the officer has been identified as Francesco Marlett. He was reportedly suspended from the department back in May over a separate matter.

The incident took place at a park behind Oxon Hill High School.

Now, Marlett’s wife has also taken to social media, resharing the video on Facebook with the caption, “There goes my husband and his mistress.” She also called out the “mistress” for cheating on her own husband, garnering a response from the woman in question:

The so called “mistress” fired back with shocking claims of her own saying, “not that I owe anyone an explanation, this girl has been cheating on her husband for a while now herself.”

She also appeared to take another jab at the officer’s wife saying “don’t be mad at me because your husband wants me.”

The video has garnered millions of views online, along with the real-life soap opera playing out at the same time. WMAR also reveals that Marlett was suspended in May over a domestic violence allegation, but reinstated in June. He is now suspended again pending an internal investigation over this latest incident.

Using social media in divorce proceedings

Social media can be a valuable tool for gathering evidence in divorce proceedings. However, it is important to use it carefully and ethically.

Here are some tips for using social media in divorce proceedings:

• Only use social media accounts that belong to you or your spouse. It is illegal to access someone else’s social media account without their permission.
• Do not post anything new on social media about your divorce or your spouse. Anything you post can be used against you in court.
• Take screenshots of any social media posts that are relevant to your divorce case. Be sure to include the date and time of the post, as well as the username of the person who posted it.
• If you see something on social media that makes you concerned about your children’s safety or well-being, document it and show it to your Columbia attorney.

Here are some examples of how social media can be used in divorce proceedings:

• To prove adultery. If your spouse is posting pictures or videos of themselves with someone else, or if they are making incriminating comments on social media, this evidence can be used to prove adultery in court.
• To prove financial misconduct. If your spouse is posting pictures of themselves on expensive vacations or buying new luxury items, this evidence can be used to prove that they are hiding assets or spending money irresponsibly.
• To prove parental neglect or abuse. If your spouse is posting pictures or videos of themselves engaging in harmful or neglectful behavior with your children, this evidence can be used to prove parental neglect or abuse in court.

It is important to note that social media evidence is not always admissible in court. Judges may decide that certain social media posts are irrelevant or prejudicial. However, even if social media evidence is not admissible in court, it can still be useful for your attorney to have access to this information.

If you are considering using social media evidence in your divorce case, it is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney. The attorneys at McCabe Russell can help you determine which social media posts are relevant to your case and can advise you on how to use this evidence effectively.

Is adultery grounds for divorce in Maryland?

Not anymore. As of October 1, 2023, adultery is no longer grounds for divorce. Now, the only grounds for divorce necessary in Maryland are mutual consent and irreconcilable differences. However, in a case like this one, we shouldn’t dismiss the video, as it shows Marlett clearly cheating on his wife. This is because a judge may consider something like social media during asset division or other issues involved in a divorce.

Adultery can impact divorce proceedings in a number of ways. It can affect the division of property, alimony, and child custody.

• Division of property. Even though adultery is no longer considered a marital fault, it can be taken into account when dividing property in a divorce. This means that the spouse who committed adultery may be awarded a smaller share of the marital property.
• Alimony. Adultery can also affect alimony, which is financial support paid by one spouse to the other after a divorce. In some states, adultery is a factor that judges consider when deciding whether or not to award alimony and how much alimony to award.
• Other factors. In addition to the above factors, judges may also consider other factors when deciding how adultery will impact divorce proceedings, such as:
  • The length of the marriage
  • The presence of children
  • The financial situation of both spouses
  • The emotional impact of the adultery on the non-adulterous spouse
  • Whether or not the adulterous spouse is remorseful

If you believe your spouse is committing adultery, it is essential to speak with an experienced Columbia family law attorney as soon as possible.

For answers to all of your questions about adultery and divorce, talk to the family law attorneys at Russell McCabe in Columbia today. We can determine if adultery will have an impact on your case, and represent you in all legal proceedings. Schedule a consultation today by calling our Columbia offices or filling out our contact form. We have offices in Fulton, Columbia, Bethesda, and Rockville, and proudly serve Montgomery and Howard Counties.