Taylor Paul Questions Abuse Charge After Altercation

In bodycam footage from her February 2023 arrest, Taylor Paul questioned authorities about the specific charge of reckless child abuse. She sought clarification from a detective on the distinction between reckless and intentional child abuse. Paul recalled an incident where she threw a chair at her ex-partner, Dakota Mortensen, and it unintentionally struck their daughter, Indy.

The detective explained that Indy sustained a minor injury, a detail Paul contested, mentioning her mother spoke to officers who found no injuries. Paul expressed distress over the accidental nature of the incident and concerns about her children. She pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault as part of a deal to have other charges, including child abuse, dropped.

This plea deal requires Paul to maintain good behavior for three years, after which the charge may be downgraded to a misdemeanor. Paul and Mortensen were involved in a separate domestic violence incident last month, leading to Mortensen being awarded temporary custody of their son, Ever. Authorities are reportedly investigating a third alleged domestic violence incident from 2024.

Following the release of footage from the 2023 incident, ABC canceled Paul's season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to premiere on March 22, 2026. Paul expressed deep emotional distress about not being able to see her children during the legal proceedings.