Attorneys for reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her role in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' and the father of her 2-year-old son are set to present competing petitions for protective orders against each other on Thursday. This legal battle could determine who gains custody of their child.
Background of the Case
Both Paul and her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, have requested that a Utah court convert short-term protective orders into long-term arrangements. The two have accused each other of domestic violence. During an April 7 hearing, Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas expressed 'concerns going both ways' regarding the conflicting allegations. As a result, Paul is currently prohibited from spending unsupervised time with her son due to a history of volatile behavior directed at Mortensen in the presence of children. Paul and Mortensen have been ordered to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet (30 meters) from each other until the hearing on Thursday afternoon. A court spokesperson confirmed that both parties are expected to appear in person after attending the previous hearing virtually.
Details of the Allegations
The protective order requests involve examinations of eleven altercations between the ex-couple. A recently leaked video from a 2023 fight prompted ABC to take the unprecedented step last month of shelving an already-filmed season of 'The Bachelorette' starring Paul. Hulu also paused production of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' but resumed filming last week. In the video, Paul appears to punch, kick, and throw chairs at Mortensen while her daughter watches and cries. Paul was subsequently charged with aggravated assault and other offenses, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. Police body camera footage of her arrest was featured in the first season of the Hulu series.
Legal Outcomes
Paul pleaded guilty to an assault charge, which will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor if she avoids legal trouble during a three-year probationary period ending in August. The other counts were dismissed. Earlier this month, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office declined to file new charges against Paul for recent fights with Mortensen. Any new charges would have violated Paul's probation from the 2023 assault. This lack of prosecution may aid Paul and her attorneys in making her case to the court commissioner as she fights to regain custody of her son.
Custody Implications
In Utah, a protective order can restrict or eliminate a parent’s ability to see their child. If one parent obtains a protective order against the other, a court commissioner may decide it is in the child's best interest to grant custody to that parent. When both parents have protective orders against each other, the court heavily relies on recommendations from an attorney appointed to investigate the child's best interests. Paul and Mortensen's son, Ever, will have a court-appointed attorney present at Thursday’s hearing to help the commissioner determine the safest arrangement for the boy. The lawyer, Michael McDonald, voiced concerns during the April 7 hearing about Paul’s tendency to fight with Mortensen in front of their son.
Arguments from Both Sides
Eric Swinyard, Paul’s attorney, has argued that Mortensen is the aggressor in the relationship. He presented photos in court showing Paul's bruises after a fight in a truck, in which Paul alleges Mortensen slammed her head into the dashboard. Daniela Diaz, Mortensen’s lawyer, described other altercations between the pair and argued that Paul uses their son 'as a pawn to start fights.'
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the national domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 in the U.S.
