James McCoy Taylor, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, has been re-arrested in Texas one year after being accused of assault and unlawful restraint.
Re-Arrest in Brazos County
According to court records reviewed by PEOPLE, Taylor, 39, was arrested on Friday, March 20, in Brazos County, Texas. He was released later that same day on a $10,000 surety bond. TMZ was the first to report the news of his re-arrest.
Charges Stemming from April 2024 Incident
The re-arrest is related to a warrant stemming from an alleged incident in April 2024. Taylor is accused of assault causing bodily injury and unlawful restraint, charges similar to those he faced during a previous arrest in August 2024 in College Station, Texas.
Details of the Alleged Assault
The probable cause warrant issued by the Bryan Police Department alleges that Taylor restrained a woman without her consent by shoving her to the ground, getting on top of her, and using his body weight to prevent her from getting up.
In a statement provided to PEOPLE in 2024, Taylor denied the allegations, saying, “I’m a pretty big guy, but I was trying to ‘unlawfully restrain’ a girl, and she just… got away and walked right to her Uber outside my house? With no injuries?” He further added, “I would never hurt anybody. I’m nice to EVERY person I meet.”
Victim’s Allegations
According to the probable cause document, Taylor and the woman met at a bar in College Station and later went to Taylor’s condo, where they kissed. The woman allegedly changed her mind and wanted to leave, but Taylor is said to have tackled her and held her down. She reportedly managed to escape the situation and fled before calling the police. The victim also accused Taylor of groping her and using his body weight to hold her down while continuing to kiss her against her will.
Previous Legal Issues
This is not the first time Taylor has faced legal troubles. In 2022, he was detained in College Station on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon. He was found guilty in 2023 and served five days in the Brazos County Detention Center, in addition to receiving a fine and temporarily losing his driver’s license.
2025 Plea Agreement
In 2025, Taylor pleaded guilty to the charges from the 2024 incident. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, a $750 fine, and $350 in court costs. He was also ordered to attend anger management classes and was prohibited from having any contact with the victim. Additionally, Taylor was banned from the Northgate Entertainment District.
