Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her appearances on TV shows like “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and a 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. Police in Draper City and West Jordan have been investigating reports of domestic violence made by Paul’s former partner, Dakota Mortensen, both in 2024 and this February. Allegations have been made by Paul against Mortensen as well, though these were not addressed in official documents.
Any new charges against Paul would have violated her probation, which was the result of a 2023 incident involving Mortensen. The couple has each sought protective orders against the other, which will be discussed in an upcoming hearing. Breanne Miller, a legal representative in the district attorney’s Family Protection Unit, stated in a memo that there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against Paul.
Miller explained that some incidents reported occurred more than three years ago, falling outside the legal review timeframe. The decision not to press charges does not impact Mortensen’s current protective order against Paul, which may become long-term after an April 30 hearing. However, the lack of prosecution could assist Paul and her legal team in presenting their case for unsupervised visits with her son, as previously ordered by a court commissioner.
At an April 7 hearing, Paul’s lawyer, Eric Swinyard, argued that Mortensen was the aggressor in a recent altercation termed the “truck tussle.” Mortensen had alleged that Paul threw a drink at him during an argument in a truck. In contrast, Swinyard claimed that Mortensen had physically assaulted Paul, causing bruises which she documented with photographs.
In a separate incident in 2023, a video leak led to ABC shelving an already-filmed season of “The Bachelorette” due to the violent nature of the footage involving Paul and Mortensen. Paul was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. She accepted a plea deal for an assault charge, with the possibility of it being reduced to a misdemeanor if she complies with a three-year probation ending in August.
The couple’s tumultuous relationship has been a focal point on reality TV, particularly on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” where their conflicts were showcased since the show’s 2024 debut. The ongoing legal battles and protective order requests highlight the complexities of their relationship.
