Unexpected star Bella Vaughn’s mother, Falen Vaughn, was detained on Monday, April 20, in Arkansas, as confirmed by Us Weekly.
Falen faces misdemeanor charges for obstructing governmental operations and disorderly conduct, according to a police report obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, April 21.
She was taken into custody at Crawford County Jail on Monday following a reported altercation with police outside the residence of her daughter Bella’s boyfriend, Hunter Johnson’s father. Bella, 16, and Hunter, 14, are parents to 13-month-old Wesley, introduced to viewers during season 7 of TLC’s Unexpected.
According to a police affidavit accessed by Us Weekly, officers responded to a call about alleged disorderly conduct on Monday. Upon arrival, one officer attempted to obtain Falen’s details regarding the incident when her husband, Kris Vaughn, showed up and allegedly approached another officer in an “agitated state.”
The first officer reported that he instructed Falen to “stay back,” but she ignored the command and moved towards her husband and the second officer.
After Falen allegedly failed to comply a second time, the officer “gained control” of her and arrested her, citing a “safety concern” for his colleague.
Taylor Frankie Paul from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has faced several domestic violence investigations. She was arrested in February 2023 following an altercation with Dakota Mortensen, her then-boyfriend, and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault under a plea agreement. […]
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to Us Weekly that Falen was released Monday night after posting a $440 bond, $220 for each charge. Her court appearance is scheduled for Monday, June 8.
Us Weekly has contacted TLC for comments.
Further details about the incident have not been disclosed by authorities, but The Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported on Tuesday that Falen’s arrest followed an alleged scene caused by Hunter’s mother, Stacie Riddle, and his stepmother, Brettney Johnson, on the same day.
The outlet and social media video footage suggest that Stacie and Brettney engaged in an argument earlier on Monday. The dispute reportedly began when Stacie allegedly refused to let Hunter travel with a family friend from baseball practice to his father Casey Johnson’s home due to a work conflict involving Casey and Brettney.
According to reports, Stacie allegedly picked up Hunter during Casey’s scheduled parenting time, leading to a confrontation. Falen can be seen in a social media video reassuring Hunter, saying, “It’s OK baby, calm down,” upon arriving at Casey’s house following the argument between the two women.
The court has instructed Unexpected star Hunter Johnson not to stay overnight at his girlfriend Bella Vaughn’s residence. Court documents obtained by Us Weekly show that Hunter’s father, Casey Johnson, sought full custody of his son, now 14, in April 2025, citing an “unstable and unwholesome” environment created by Hunter’s mother, Stacie Riddle. […]
Falen’s arrest marks the latest legal issue for her family. Hunter’s father, Casey, is preparing for a legal battle against his ex-wife, Stacie, and Falen concerning the custody of Hunter and his son with Bella, Wes, according to The Ashley.
Us Weekly verified that Casey has filed a lawsuit against Falen over the paternity of their shared grandchild. In April, Casey, as Wes’s grandfather, requested the court to declare Hunter as Wes’s legal father and to grant him full custody of the child, citing claims in court documents that Bella’s living situation lacks stability and proper supervision. If full custody is not granted, Casey is seeking joint custody.
