The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has declined to file new criminal charges against reality television personality Taylor Frankie Paul following a review of domestic violence reports from the Draper and West Jordan Police Departments. Separately, a Utah court has issued mutual protective orders between Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, requiring them to stay at least 100 feet apart for three years.
District Attorney Declines Charges
Decision and Rationale
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced it will not file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul after reviewing reports and evidence submitted by the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department. The decision was communicated in letters sent to both police departments.
In its statement, the District Attorney's office cited several reasons for the decision:
- Some alleged incidents occurred more than three years ago. Misdemeanor offenses alleged to have occurred more than two years ago are barred by the statute of limitations.
- Several submitted incidents "do not rise to the level of criminal offenses."
- The remaining incidents "lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges" where the State must be able to prove such allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. The office cited a lack of specificity regarding when events occurred or a lack of corroboration.
Previous Legal History
Paul had previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to one count of aggravated assault related to a 2023 incident with Mortensen that was captured on video. That charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, with Paul placed on a three-year probation period ending in August. Other counts, including domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse, and criminal mischief, were dismissed. The District Attorney noted that if new charges had been filed and Paul's probation revoked, she could have faced up to a five-year prison sentence.
Related Television and Brand Impacts
ABC pulled the reality series The Bachelorette from its schedule on March 19, ahead of its planned March 22 premiere, after a video emerged showing Paul throwing metal stools at Mortensen and apparently hitting one of her children. Disney Entertainment Television issued a statement confirming the decision, citing the newly surfaced video and stating a focus on supporting the family involved.
Production on season five of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, another show featuring Paul, was paused amid a separate domestic incident involving Paul and Mortensen. Filming remained paused pending an internal production investigation.
Cinnabon terminated its collaborations with both The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives following the allegations. A Cinnabon spokesperson stated that recent developments and allegations surrounding the lead cast member led the company to reassess the collaboration, as it no longer aligned with its brand values.
Statements
Disney, ABC's parent company, declined to comment on the decision not to file charges. Representatives for Taylor Frankie Paul did not respond to requests for comment.
Mutual Protective Orders and Custody Proceedings
Court Ruling
On Thursday, Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas issued mutual protective orders requiring Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen to stay at least 100 feet apart for three years. The orders were issued after a nearly two-hour hearing where lawyers for both parties described incidents of physical abuse dating back to their relationship and as recently as February.
Commissioner Minas ruled that the evidence indicated the two cannot be together without escalating to violence and warned that violations could result in criminal charges.
Custody Arrangement
The court granted temporary custody of the couple's 2-year-old son to Mortensen and allowed Paul eight hours of supervised visitation per week. Commissioner Minas expressed intent to gradually restore a prior arrangement where Paul had 70% parenting time and Mortensen 30%, and indicated consideration of removing the supervision requirement.
A review hearing is scheduled for June 1, after completion of mental health and domestic violence assessments ordered by child protective services. The court-appointed attorney for the child, Michael McDonald, expressed concerns about Paul's tendency to fight with Mortensen in front of their son.
Legal Arguments
Eric Swinyard, Paul's attorney, argued that Mortensen is the aggressor and presented photos of bruises Paul sustained during a fight. Swinyard stated that Paul was candid with the court about her faults and looks forward to cooperating in the custody case.
Daniela Diaz, Mortensen's attorney, described altercations and argued that Paul uses their son "as a pawn to start fights." Mortensen's attorney also denied that Mortensen was responsible for leaking the video of the 2023 incident to TMZ.
Commissioner Minas characterized Paul's conduct as "reactive" and Mortensen's as "calculating," and urged both to prioritize their child.
Prior Court Rulings
A week prior to the District Attorney's decision not to file charges, a Utah official ruled that Paul could not have unsupervised time with her toddler son. At an April 7 hearing, Commissioner Minas expressed "concerns going both ways" regarding the allegations and ordered both parties to stay at least 100 feet apart pending further hearing.
Alleged Incidents
The court reviewed 11 separate altercations between Paul and Mortensen. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Paul, citing lack of credibility in both parties' accounts. The Draper City Police Department confirmed an open "domestic assault investigation" involving both parties, with allegations made in both directions. Contact was made with the involved parties on February 24 and 25.