Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her roles in “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and a canceled season of “The Bachelorette,” will not face charges following recent altercations with her former partner, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Police in Draper City and West Jordan have been investigating reports of domestic violence made by Paul’s ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, in 2024 and February of this year. Both parties have accused each other, but the recent incidents did not meet the criteria for criminal charges.
No new charges were brought against Paul to avoid violating her probation from a previous 2023 assault on Mortensen. Paul and Mortensen have filed conflicting protective orders against each other, set to be addressed in an upcoming hearing. The District Attorney’s Office stated that some incidents reported were beyond the legal time frame for review, while others lacked sufficient evidence to support criminal charges.
The decision not to press charges does not impact Mortensen’s temporary protective order against Paul, which could be made permanent at an upcoming hearing. Paul’s lawyer argued that Mortensen was the aggressor in a recent altercation, known as the “truck tussle,” where Paul allegedly threw a drink at Mortensen, who retaliated by assaulting her.
ABC had previously halted a season of “The Bachelorette” due to a 2023 video showing Paul engaging in physical violence towards Mortensen. Paul pleaded guilty to assault charges, with a condition of completing a three-year probationary period. The couple’s turbulent relationship, showcased on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” has been a focal point of their public persona.
