Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - A Norcross man accused of marrying six women to help them gain U.S. citizenship on Wednesday waived his right to a probable cause hearing.

The Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office and the lead police investigator agreed to lower the bond for 37-year-old Alvin Lorenzo Murdock from $6,000 to $2,500, according to Murdock's defense attorney, John Petrey. Five bigamy charges against Murdock were then bound over to Gwinnett County Superior Court by a Gwinnett magistrate judge.

"The investigator was in complete agreement that Mr. Murdock had been absolutely cooperative, courteous and no problem at all to him," Petrey said. "(The investigator) didn't feel that Murdock posed any threat to anybody, and there is no likelihood that he will flee."

Petrey declined to discuss the facts of the case. Police have said all of Murdock's wives are from different parts of Africa.

"We believe the motive was for Murdock to help these women to become U.S. citizens," said Cpl. Darren Moloney, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department.

In addition to the bigamy charges, Murdock is facing a charge of possession of marijuana stemming from a pat-down during his arrest.

Petrey described his client as a hard-working, reliable man.

"He's quite conversational, quite affable. A hard-working individual who is very dedicated to his family," Petrey said.

Murdock has a daughter who is in her late teens, however he is divorced from the girl's mother, Petrey said.

Murdock also faces charges of aggravated assault and cruelty to children from an unrelated incident, Moloney said. He had not posted bond as of press time Wednesday. He was being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.