Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her appearances on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and the canceled season of “The Bachelorette,” will not face charges following recent altercations with her ex-partner, as confirmed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday. Investigations conducted by the police in Draper City and West Jordan suburbs of Salt Lake City focused on allegations of domestic violence made by Paul’s former partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2024 and February of this year. While Paul also accused Mortensen of misconduct, those allegations were not addressed in the legal proceedings.
The decision not to pursue charges against Paul was based on the fact that certain reported incidents either did not constitute criminal offenses or lacked sufficient evidence for prosecution, as outlined in a memo by Breanne Miller from the district attorney’s Family Protection Unit. Some incidents dated back more than three years, exceeding the legal review period. This development does not directly impact Mortensen’s existing protective order against Paul, which is temporarily in place and subject to review at an upcoming hearing on April 30.
Despite the lack of new charges, the ongoing legal battle between Paul and Mortensen continues, with both parties filing petitions for protective orders against each other. Eric Swinyard, representing Paul, argued in court that Mortensen was the aggressor in a recent altercation, referred to as the “truck tussle.” Conversely, Mortensen alleged that Paul threw a drink at him during an argument in a vehicle. Swinyard countered by claiming that Mortensen physically assaulted Paul, providing photographic evidence of her injuries.
In a separate incident in 2023, a video of a violent altercation between Paul and Mortensen led to the cancellation of a season of “The Bachelorette.” Paul faced charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence, resulting in a guilty plea for assault, with other charges dismissed. The legal resolution included a probationary period for Paul, set to end in August, during which she must maintain a clean legal record to avoid felony charges.
The complex dynamics of the couple’s relationship, marked by numerous confrontations, are under scrutiny, with eleven incidents of conflict highlighted in their protective order requests. Concerns about the welfare of their son, Ever, have been raised, particularly after a video from the previous year captured a volatile exchange between Paul and Mortensen in the presence of the child. Attorneys for both parties have presented contrasting arguments regarding the intensity and responsibility in their interactions.
Paul’s tumultuous relationship with Mortensen, prominently featured on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” has been a focal point of her reality TV journey, starting with her 2023 arrest shown on the series. The legal developments and ongoing disputes between the former couple underscore the complexities of their personal and legal entanglements.
