"Love Island USA" contestant Cashel Barnett is facing charges in connection with his former girlfriend's allegations that he sexually assaulted her. The new accusations come in addition to a number of charges brought last month against the reality TV star, who is being held in a Utah jail.
Salt Lake County prosecutors this week charged Barnett, 34, with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
Last month, Barnett was charged with felony aggravated assault, felony domestic violence in the presence of a child and two counts of misdemeanor assault. Barnett has been held at the Salt Lake City jail in Utah since his arrest.
Barnett maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing.
"My client and his family are enduring an incredibly difficult time, and we hope that his privacy will be respected as we work diligently to defend his name and reputation," attorney Andrew K. Deesing said in a statement. "Obviously, we’re in the very early stages of this and don’t have any further comment at this time."
The allegations are connected to Barnett's ex-girlfriend, who is not named in court documents.
The new indictment alleges that a sexual assault occurred on April 10, about a month after Barnett withheld sex from his ex-girlfriend. Barnett withheld sex after the woman told him to get a job to help support their 1-year-old daughter, according to the court documents.
The pair fought about their intimacy issues, and Barnett "grabbed her from behind, pushed her head into the couch, causing her to lose consciousness, then raped her 'violently,'" the indictment states.
A police report states that Barnett's ex-girlfriend told police he physically abused her that same month.
The alleged abuse occurred after the woman tried to calm Barnett during an argument in front of the child, the police report states.
She said during the incident, Barnett slapped her arms, picked her up by her neck using both hands and slammed her onto a bed, according to the police report. Barnett allegedly throttled the woman with “continuous pressure," disrupting her breathing and vision, according to the report.
"Barnett then slapped [the woman] in the face and said, 'You’re fine,'" the police report says.
Barnett, who lives in the Salt Lake City area, competed on the first season of “Love Island USA” in 2019. Barnett is a drummer for multiple bands and models, according to his social media accounts.
