The Bachelorette Winner Arrested And Had Restraining Order
Despite capturing the heart of Jenn Tran and being declared the winner on the September 3 season finale of The Bachelorette, Devin Strader is quickly rising through the ranks as one of the most hated contestants in the show’s history. Shortly after abruptly calling off the couple’s brief engagement, details of the 28-year-old freight company manager’s sordid past have now begun to emerge, including information regarding his prior arrest and restraining order stemming from a previous relationship.
The Arrest
As first reported by Reality Steve, a YouTube channel dedicated to the world of Bachelor Nation, an unsealed affidavit reveals that Devin Strader was arrested in Louisiana in 2017 after being accused of burglarizing his ex-girlfriend’s home. At the time, his ex-girlfriend, whose name was not revealed in the affidavit, had also previously filed a restraining order against him. He was subsequently issued an arrest warrant by the Baton Rouge Police Department for one felony count of “simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.”
Devin Strader Plead Guilty
According to the affidavit, Devin Strader was accused of visiting the victim’s home while she was out of town. The ex-girlfriend alleged that when she returned from her trip, she discovered that her home had been burglarized by Devin Strader, who had broken personal items of hers before tossing them onto the floor.
The victim claimed that the diamond necklace that he had given her while they were still dating was among the items that were missing. Following his arrest for the alleged burglary, Devin Strader would plead guilty to charges of criminal trespass and simple criminal damage to property of less than $500, receiving one year of unsupervised probation.
Disturbing Allegations
The ex-girlfriend told police that prior to the burglary, Devin Strader had “come to her house banging on the door several times and screaming at her,” leading to her filing the restraining order. According to the affidavit, on the night that the restraining order had been issued, Devin Strader ventured outside of her home. “Later that evening, he made a fire out in the street with what appeared to be the actual restraining order,” the affidavit reads.
Reports Of Physical Abuse
In addition to her claims of harassment after their breakup, Devin Strader’s ex-girlfriend also alleged that he had become violent while the two were still in a relationship. As stated in the affidavit, the ex-girlfriend detailed an event in which Devin Strader had “spit on me and threw his drink on me at [a] Pelicans game in front of everyone in the stands,” the ex-girlfriend says. She also alleged that he had also once beaten her while she was asleep, leading to bruises on her “knees, elbow, stomach, arms,” in which he admitted to almost killing her before refusing to elaborate.
Changing The Bachelorette’s Vetting Process?
In the wake of the discovery of Devin Strader’s criminal past, ABC has faced added scrutiny for its vetting process, with questions about how the company handles its background checks. According to Reality Steve, the restraining order that Devin Strader’s ex-girlfriend had filed against him was sealed, which would have prevented employees from The Bachelorette from discovering the details inside.
However, the affidavit regarding his arrest and the subsequent charges, which is in the public record, made mention of the prior restraining order that was filed against him.
Source: Reality Steve
