Cheat On Your Spouse = Jail Time In These 17 States

To CHEAT - steal, deceive - any way you look at it the word "Cheat" instantly brings to my mind...

...treating yourself and other people with a complete lack of respect. Unfortunately, there are a zillion ways to cheat - in school, while taking a test, a simple "I'll take a 7 on that last hole" ( when the whole world knows you had an 11 - cheating yourself really ) and sadly when a spouse cheats on their partner. It can ruin an entire family - is it a crime though? Well in 17 States across America, you can send your spouse to jail - for cheating. Is North Dakota one of them?

So is a cheating spouse sentenced to jail just a wee bit harsh?

That's a question I wouldn't ask at a dinner party - here is the deal, there are 17 States where Cheating is a crime punishable by jail. Another word for CHEATING on your spouse would be ADULTERY - and according to msn.com "hanky panky" or heating behind your spouse's back can land you in jail - a punishable offense. In some of the 17 States, the penalties are considered more severe. Here are the 17 States:

1) Michigan - has one of the strictest adultery laws. Under the Michigan Penal Code, adultery is considered a felony and is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000. Michigan also considers any post-divorce cohabitation between former spouses as falling under the crime of adultery.

2) Oklahoma - adultery is also a felony. It can result in up to five years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $500. Interestingly, it’s a crime not only for the married person but also for the other person involved, even if that person is single.

3) Wisconsin - Adultery in Wisconsin is a felony that can lead to a hefty fine of up to $10,000. The crime also carries a potential sentence of up to three and a half years of imprisonment.

********* In these next states, adultery is considered a misdemeanor. While rarely prosecuted, it’s still on the books as an offense. The fines can range from $10 to $2,500 *******

4) Alabama

5) Arizona

6) Florida

7) Georgia

8) Illinois

9) Kansas

10) Maryland

11) Mississippi

12) North Carolina

13) North Dakota - Adultery is a class B misdemeanor in North Dakota. It is punishable by a fine of up to $1,500 and/or imprisonment for up to six months

14) Rhode Island

15) South Carolina

16) Virginia

17) New York

So listen, think twice before you cheat ( maybe soon we can arrest those who continue to CHEAT at golf )