The 28-year-old freight company manager from Texas accused of burglary, harassment, and violating a restraining order
Fans of The Bachelorette are no strangers to contestant controversies, but Devin Strader has become one of the franchise’s most disliked figures after disturbing details about his past have resurfaced. The 28-year-old freight company manager from Texas, already in hot water for breaking up with his fiancée, Bachelorette Jenn Tran, shortly after their engagement, now faces accusations of a criminal history involving burglary, harassment, and violations of a restraining order filed by an ex-girlfriend.
This revelation has left fans of the show and the media questioning how such a controversial figure made it through The Bachelorette’s vetting process. With recent updates emerging about Strader’s past, the questions are only mounting.
The Burglary and Alleged Harassment in 2017
According to legal documents obtained by Entertainment Weekly, Strader was arrested in 2017 after allegedly burglarizing his ex-girlfriend’s home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The incident occurred after Strader and the woman, whose name has not been publicly released, had recently broken up. The two were neighbors, living just two doors down from each other.
As detailed in the Baton Rouge Police Department’s affidavit, Strader’s ex-girlfriend returned home after being out of town, only to find that her house had been broken into. Among the items missing was a diamond necklace Strader had gifted her while they were still together. This missing necklace, along with the timing of the burglary, led the woman to suspect Strader, and she immediately reported the crime to the police.
However, the alleged burglary wasn’t the only issue at play. The ex-girlfriend informed law enforcement that Strader had been harassing her since their breakup, showing up at her home on multiple occasions, banging on her door, and yelling. His behavior was so erratic and threatening that the woman took out a restraining order against him in an attempt to protect herself. Yet, this seemed to have little effect on Strader’s actions.
The Fire Incident and Harassment Escalates
In a bizarre and alarming turn of events, the police report described a disturbing incident in which Strader allegedly set fire to the restraining order in the street outside his ex-girlfriend’s house. The police affidavit alleges that after she obtained the restraining order, Strader made a point of burning it in front of her home as a form of intimidation. Such behavior only reinforced the woman’s fears and concerns about her safety.
Moreover, the woman reported that her car’s tire was mysteriously flattened around the same time. She became suspicious of Strader, and her suspicions seemed justified when, as she attempted to change the tire, Strader came outside and began laughing at her. These combined actions—the harassment, the burglary, the fire, and the intimidation—created a hostile and frightening environment for the woman.
Criminal Charges and Strader’s Legal Outcome
Eventually, the police arrested Strader on charges of burglary and harassment. However, as is often the case in legal proceedings, the charges were ultimately downgraded through a plea deal. Strader pleaded guilty to two lesser charges: criminal trespass and simple criminal damage to property under $500. As a result, he was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation, which allowed him to avoid jail time while still being held accountable for his actions.
This outcome may seem lenient given the severity of the allegations, but plea deals are common in cases like these, where prosecutors weigh the evidence and the likelihood of conviction at trial.
The Questionable Vetting Process of Reality TV
One of the most pressing questions for fans and the media alike is how Devin Strader’s criminal history slipped through the vetting process of The Bachelorette. Both ABC and Warner Bros., the production company behind The Bachelor franchise, claim to take the safety and well-being of their contestants seriously. Background checks are a standard part of the casting process, and contestants are typically screened for any criminal history, legal issues, or problematic behavior that could endanger other contestants or damage the show’s reputation.
So how did Strader’s 2017 arrest and the restraining order filed against him not show up in this screening?
A source close to the show’s production told Entertainment Weekly, “We take the safety of our contestants very seriously and make every effort to conduct thorough diligence. As exhaustive as our vetting process is, this protective order did not surface in our searches.”
The source’s claim suggests that Strader’s criminal record, or at least the most concerning aspects of it, was somehow not uncovered during the background check process. This has led to speculation about whether certain legal documents, such as sealed restraining orders, could have been missed during routine searches.
Restraining Orders and Public Records
One key detail in this unfolding story is the restraining order that Strader’s ex-girlfriend had taken out against him. According to a report by Reality Steve, the restraining order was later sealed by the court, which may explain why it did not appear in the background checks conducted by The Bachelorette’s production team. Sealed court records are not accessible to the general public or standard background check services, making it difficult for producers to detect any history of legal issues related to the restraining order.
However, the police affidavit that detailed the burglary incident and mentioned the existence of the restraining order was part of the public record and should have been accessible. This raises further questions about how thoroughly the background checks were conducted, especially since Reality Steve was able to obtain this information as part of his reporting.
Details from the Petition for Protection From Abuse
The troubling details of Strader’s alleged behavior do not end with the burglary or the harassment. Entertainment Weekly obtained the now-unsealed Petition for Protection From Abuse, which Strader’s ex-girlfriend filed on March 22, 2017. The document, which contains her handwritten account of the abuse, paints an even darker picture of Strader’s conduct during their relationship.
Among the allegations in the petition, the woman described how Strader publicly humiliated her at a Pelicans basketball game by spitting on her and throwing his drink at her in front of the crowd. She also claimed that Strader physically assaulted her by putting her in a chokehold and covering her mouth, leaving her feeling terrified and helpless. These disturbing details highlight the abusive nature of their relationship and further validate the woman’s decision to seek legal protection from Strader.
Strader’s Behavior on The Bachelorette
Devin Strader’s appearance on The Bachelorette was controversial even before this criminal history came to light. Fans of the show were already critical of Strader’s actions after he unceremoniously dumped his fiancée, Jenn Tran, shortly after their season of The Bachelorette finished filming. On the live season finale, Strader was booed by the audience, who were appalled by his callous treatment of Tran.
Following the episode, Strader attempted to defend himself by releasing a 13-minute video on social media, in which he shared screenshots of text messages exchanged between himself and Tran. He claimed that the texts provided context for his decision to end their relationship. However, the video was met with widespread criticism, and Strader eventually deleted it from his accounts.
A Troubling Pattern of Missed Red Flags
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that a contestant on The Bachelorette has been found to have a troubling criminal past. In 2018, it was revealed that Lincoln Adim, a contestant on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette, had been convicted of indecent assault and battery for groping a woman on a harbor cruise in Boston. Adim was allowed to participate in the show despite his criminal record, and the producers only discovered the conviction after the fact.
In a statement released at the time, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. said, “No one on The Bachelorette production had any knowledge about the incident or charges when Lincoln Adim was cast, and he himself denied ever having engaged in or having been charged with any sexual misconduct.”
The pattern of contestants with hidden criminal histories making it onto the show raises concerns about the thoroughness of the vetting process and whether additional safeguards are needed to prevent similar oversights in the future.
What’s Next for The Bachelorette?
As more details about Devin Strader’s past emerge, fans are left wondering how a contestant with such a troubling history was able to participate in The Bachelorette. The revelations about his arrest, the restraining order, and the allegations of abuse have only intensified the public outcry against him, and the show’s producers may face increased pressure to revise their vetting procedures to prevent future oversights.
In a franchise that thrives on drama and controversy, Strader’s story serves as a reminder that not all drama is entertaining, especially when it involves real-life criminal behavior and allegations of abuse. The Bachelorette may need to take a closer look at how they handle contestant vetting to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
