Fact Check: Did Taylor Frankie Paul Hit Her Daughter with a Chair? the Full Truth
By Sarah Jenkins
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Online rumors have frequently claimed that Paul was convicted of felony child abuse or direct domestic violence against a minor. Court dockets from Utah's Third District Court tell a more nuanced legal story. While initial charging documents included serious felony allegations, prosecutors offered a standard plea agreement after reviewing the full evidentiary file, which included Mortensen's statement that Paul had not intentionally aimed the furniture at the child.
| Legal Milestone | Charges / Status | Factual Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Booking (Feb 2023) | Felony Aggravated Assault, Child Abuse, Criminal Mischief, Domestic Violence | Booked into Salt Lake County Jail; released on bail pending formal charges. |
| Formal Filing (March 2023) | Two counts of Domestic Violence in Presence of a Child, Child Abuse, Assault | Prosecutors reviewed surveillance footage and physical medical evaluations. |
| Plea Agreement (August 2023) | Pleaded guilty to one count of Misdemeanor Assault | Felony counts and child abuse charges dismissed; 36-month probation and domestic violence courses mandated. |
| Footage Leak & Cancellation (March 2026) | Unsealed footage circulates publicly | ABC/Disney terminates Paul's lead casting for The Bachelorette. |
Under the terms of the August 2023 plea deal, Paul entered a plea in abeyance to a single count of misdemeanor assault. The state dismissed the child abuse and aggravated assault charges with prejudice, acknowledging that the injury to her daughter was reckless rather than premeditated. Paul was placed on 36 months of supervised probation, required to complete domestic violence intervention classes, and ordered to abstain from alcohol.
Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.
