The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has announced that it will not file criminal charges against Taylor Frankie Paul, ending a legal cloud that recently disrupted one of ABC’s most prominent reality franchises. The decision comes after a review of evidence submitted by the Draper and West Jordan police departments regarding allegations of domestic violence.
The legal resolution provides a reprieve for Paul, a lead cast member of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, who had been facing potential felony charges. Had the prosecutor moved forward, Paul could have faced a prison sentence of up to five years for a third-degree felony, as well as the revocation of her current probation status.
The fallout from these allegations extended well beyond the courtroom, impacting the television industry. ABC abruptly pulled the latest season of The Bachelorette from its schedule on March 19, just days before its planned March 22 premiere. The decision to shelve the series followed the emergence of a video reportedly showing Paul throwing metal stools at an ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen and allegedly hitting one of her children.
The move was a significant financial blow to the network, with reports indicating the cancellation cost ABC tens of millions of dollars in lost production and marketing investments.
The Legal Basis for the Decision to Decline Charges
In letters sent to law enforcement agencies in Draper and West Jordan, District Attorney Sim Gill’s office detailed the specific reasons why the state would not pursue the case. The prosecutor noted that several of the reported incidents occurred more than three years ago, placing them outside the legal window for prosecution.
According to the DA’s office, any misdemeanor offenses alleged to have occurred more than two years ago are barred by the statute of limitations. While incidents within the legal timeframe were reviewed, the prosecutor concluded that many did not meet the threshold of criminal offenses.
The District Attorney’s office further stated that the remaining allegations lacked the necessary evidence to secure a conviction. The office noted that the state must be able to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, but in this instance, the evidence lacked sufficient corroboration or specificity regarding when and what actually occurred.
“Based on the evidence submitted for screening by the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office declines to file any charges,” the office announced.
A Complex History of Allegations and Legal Battles
While the current charges were declined, this is not the first time Paul has faced legal scrutiny regarding her relationship with Dakota Mortensen. In 2024, Paul entered a guilty plea on one count of aggravated assault stemming from a 2023 incident involving Mortensen that was also captured on film.
The intersection of Paul’s personal life and her public persona has grow a focal point of reality television drama and legal proceedings in Utah. The timeline of these events illustrates a volatile cycle of accusations and judicial interventions:
| Date/Period | Event | Outcome/Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Domestic incident with Dakota Mortensen | Caught on film; led to 2024 plea |
| 2024 | Aggravated Assault charge | Guilty plea entered; ongoing probation |
| March 19, 2026 | ABC cancels The Bachelorette | Season shelved due to fresh video evidence |
| Late March 2026 | Additional DV allegations emerge | Police investigations initiated |
| April 2026 | DA Sim Gill’s review | Charges declined due to evidence/statutes |
Despite the decision not to file new criminal charges, the civil and familial disputes remain active. A Beehive State official recently ruled that Paul cannot spend unsupervised time with her toddler son, whom she shares with Mortensen. This restriction highlights the ongoing tension between the criminal justice system’s requirements for evidence and the family court’s standards for child safety.
Industry Impact and the ‘Mormon Wives’ Fallout
The decision by Disney, ABC’s parent company, to pull The Bachelorette reflects a growing sensitivity among major networks toward domestic violence allegations, even when those allegations have not yet resulted in formal charges. The speed with which the show was yanked—just three days before the premiere—underscores the high stakes of brand safety in the modern streaming and broadcast era.
For Paul, the lack of new charges preserves her ability to continue her work on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives without the immediate threat of incarceration. However, the reputational damage and the ongoing custody battles continue to shadow her public image.
Disney has declined to comment on the District Attorney’s decision. Representatives for Paul have also not responded to requests for comment regarding the cleared charges.
Note: This report involves legal proceedings and allegations of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, resources are available via the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or by visiting thehotline.org.
The next significant legal checkpoint for Paul will occur in the civil courts. A protective orders hearing involving both Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen is scheduled for April 30 before Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on the intersection of reality TV and legal accountability in the comments below.
