This week on Legally Us, Rachael Bennett, a certified family law specialist and senior attorney at Sullivan Law & Associates, breaks down Teen Mom alum Ryan Edwards’ wife Amanda Conner’s arrest and DUI charge.
On Sunday, May 24, TMZ cited a spokesperson for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Jail in Tennessee, who confirmed that Conner, 35, had been taken into custody. The report stated that she was charged with child abuse/neglect after allegedly driving under the influence with a baby in the car.
“Having a child in the vehicle will trigger separate charges, and pretty severe ones at that. On top of the DUI charge, we typically see charges for criminal child endangerment, or even child abuse, because they’ve put the child in extreme danger by having them in the vehicle with them,” Bennett tells Us. “On top of all of that, law enforcement is legally required to report situations like this to Child Protective Services, which will trigger an immediate home investigation and can result in the removal of the child from the home.”
Conner also allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road and faced an additional related charge. Her bond was set at $16,000 and she was ordered not to contact the alleged victim following her release.
“Driving on the wrong side of the road functions as a major, major aggravating factor, and that allows prosecutors to add extra charges like reckless driving or reckless endangerment, plus that’s very strong evidence for the prosecution that the driver was impaired,” Bennett explains, “If you’re driving on the wrong side of the road, it’s pretty hard to argue that you were totally with the program. So, you’ve got these two additional issues on top of a DUI, it’s pretty bad.”
Conner returned to social media on Wednesday, May 27, to publicly apologize for her recent actions and reveal that she had relapsed after maintaining sobriety for three years.
“I relapsed. After three years of working so hard to rebuild my life, I relapsed,” Conner said in a video while curling her hair on the floor. “I got too comfortable, let my guard down, and it happened. Addiction doesn’t care how long you’ve been sober, what you’ve accomplished, or how many people support and believe in you.”
She began by apologizing to those who had stood by her throughout her journey.
“You all support me so hard, and I appreciate that more than anything,” she said. “I’ve let you all down, and I’ve let my family down too. Admitting that out loud is uncomfortable. I feel ashamed, disappointed, guilty and scared. I’m not perfect, and I’ve never claimed to be.”
Conner went on to explain that although she had struggled and “fell hard,” she does not plan to let the relapse define her future.
She also acknowledged that she is now facing the consequences of her actions, adding that her followers will likely see those challenges unfold over the coming months.
In the hours after her arrest, Edwards — who also shares son Bentley, 16, with ex Maci Bookout McKinney, and son Jagger, 10, and daughter Stella, 5, with ex MacKenzie Standifer — seemingly reacted to the incident, writing via Facebook, “I will NOT be answering any questions. Please keep us in your prayers.”
The following day, The Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported that Conners called authorities on Edwards, 38, alleging that she wanted to pick up her belongings but her ex had an alleged history of “physical abuse.” While cops were sent to the residence, no arrests were made. The pair were later spotted together outside a gas station, according to the outlet.
Conners’ hearing is currently scheduled for June 3.
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