BIGAMIST GETS 8-MONTH TERM IN COUNTY JAIL.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

A Simi Valley truck driver who pleaded guilty to bigamy after sheriff's detectives investigated a complaint from his third wife was sentenced Thursday to eight months in county jail.

Lloyd Wetzel, 29, could have been sentenced to three years in state prison after admitting last month to a felony charge that he married Sandra Lemich while still married to someone else. Wetzel also received five years' probation.

Ventura Municipal Court Judge Bruce Clark told Wetzel to report to Ventura County Sheriff's Department officials Jan. 9 to begin serving his sentence. Wetzel is expected to spend his time in custody in work furlough at the Sheriff's Department's Camarillo Airport facility.

Wetzel still faces a hearing on a claim by the victim for $20,000 in restitution.

Sandra Lemich-Wetzel - 17 years younger than the man she plans to divorce - testified during the sentencing hearing that she took out a $20,000 mortgage on her Moorpark home to help Wetzel start a trucking business.

Wetzel's public defender said his client should repay only the $4,500 that was actually spent in the venture. Clark set the hearing for Jan. 28.

Deputy Public Defender Christina Briles said she will argue that Wetzel has limited intelligence and was incapable of intentionally committing fraud. Briles said results of an intelligence quotient test he took with the assistance of the Public Defender's Office found he is borderline mentally retarded.

Making a similar argument at Thursday's sentencing hearing, Briles contended Wetzel had no criminal record and should be sentenced to probation only.

Lemich and Wetzel married in January after the two met at the Simi Valley restaurant where she works.

Sheriff's detectives said Lemich-Wetzel told authorities this summer that she suspected he was married to someone else. She also put detectives in touch with Bonita Hoffman of Newbury Park, whom Wetzel had married in Clark County, Nev., in 1987. Wetzel had told Lemich about his earlier marriage, but claimed he was divorced.

Through interviews with the wives and through public records, sheriff's detectives discovered that Wetzel also remained married to Guadalupe Diaz of Sylmar, whom he had wed in 1990. Briles said Wetzel believed the marriage had been annulled in court.

Wetzel was arrested at his parents' home in Simi Valley in October and pleaded guilty some two weeks later to avoid trial.

Lemich-Wetzel said she was pleased he admitted to bigamy, but she was disappointed that prosecutors didn't pursue charges of witness intimidation or fraud.