Two reality TV stars who are in the middle of a nasty custody and domestic violence case are breathing a sigh of relief for now because Utah prosecutors have said they will not file new criminal charges against Taylor Frankie Paul, who was on “The Bachelor” and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
In February 2026, Utah police looked into Taylor Frankie Paul’s actions after she got into a fight with Dakota Mortensen, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child. Mortensen said that Paul scratched, pushed, and hit him during a fight at her house, but Paul said that he was the one who started the fight and that she was just defending herself.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office looked at police reports, body camera footage, and witness statements before deciding that there wasn’t enough evidence to meet the criminal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Prosecutors said they wouldn’t file new domestic violence charges because the timelines were unclear, the stories were inconsistent, and there wasn’t enough evidence to support them.
This most recent case isn’t the first time authorities have looked into Taylor Frankie Paul over domestic violence allegations. In 2023, she was charged with aggravated assault following an earlier physical incident with ex‑boyfriend and baby’s father Dakota Mortensen. She later takes a plea in abeyance on one count, while prosecutors dismiss four related charges, including one for domestic violence in the presence of a child.
The 2023 arrest footage later appears in the first season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” drawing intense public attention and sparking a heated debate about how reality TV handles abuse, consent, and accountability. Paul and Mortensen also obtain temporary protective orders against each other, reflecting just how strained their relationship remains as co‑parents.
While the investigation is ongoing, Mortensen files for sole custody of their young child and seeks a restraining order, claiming he faces physical attacks in late February 2026. Court records show he alleges Paul physically restrains him, pushes him against a window, and chokes him—claims she publicly denies.
Even though the district attorney decides not to file new criminal charges, family‑court proceedings over visitation and supervision keep moving forward. Judges continue to weigh the child’s best interests against the couple’s troubled history.
Fans of “The Bachelor” and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” who watch Paul and Mortensen’s relationship unfold in real time, find the outcome of this investigation deeply significant. The case also reignites long‑standing discussions about how reality TV platforms respond to domestic‑violence allegations, how much context they provide, and how the legal standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” plays out in high‑profile, emotionally charged celebrity cases.
