KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (Court TV) — A former reality TV star was sentenced to 18 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of domestic violence charges.
A jury took less than two hours before returning convictions for Geoffrey Paschel on charges of aggravated kidnapping, domestic violence and interference with an emergency call for an incident involving his ex-girlfriend.
Geoffrey Paschel, 44, was convicted of aggravated kidnapping, domestic assault and interference with emergency calls on October 7, 2021. Judge Kyle Hixson revoked the reality TV star’s bond, ordered him into custody and set a sentencing hearing for Feb. 2021. (Court TV)
Paschel became a social media sensation after appearing on the hit TLC show ‘90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.‘ The father of seven faced charges after physically assaulting his then-girlfriend on June 9, 2019.
In an affidavit, the victim, Kristen Chapman, said an intoxicated Paschel “grabbed her by the neck and slammed her head against a wall several times” before throwing her to the ground. She fled to a neighbor’s home, where police found her when they arrived.
READ MORE | Reality star’s fiancée relives alleged attack: “He was too strong”
Officers noted visible injuries, including “a large raised bruise on (her) forehead and abrasions on her elbows and knees.” A paramedic at the scene reportedly said she “displayed common signs of a concussion.”
Authorities said when they confronted Paschel, he claimed the woman’s injuries were self-inflicted. He was initially taken into custody without incident, but according to the affidavit, he “attempted to kick out the windows of the patrol vehicle.”
Paschel was ultimately charged with kidnapping, domestic assault, interference with an emergency call, and vandalism.
After fans learned of the charges, they petitioned TLC to remove him, and he was dropped from the ‘Tell All’ show, which reunites all the featured couples at the end of the season.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 1 – 10/6/21
- Prosecution rests after calling 3 witnesses: The victim, the neighbor who made the 911 call and the patrol officer who responded to the incident
- In the state’s opening, prosecutor Heather Good described in detail the brutality of the fight between the couple, including the many times she claims the defendant banged her head into stairs and walls
- The 911 bodycam footage was partially redacted, but showed both the victim right after the incident and the defendant, shirtless with visible scratches explaining that she attacked him
DAY 2 – 10/7/21
- Defendant Geoffrey Paschel takes the stand in his own defense
- Rebuttal Witness – Kristen Wilson Chapman: When asked about what photos were deleted from her phone by the defendant, Wilson replied, “I’m not sure if I can say this, but photos of marks he put on me in the past.”
- Having now addressed priors in front of the jury, the defense attorney loudly objected. Outside the presence of the jury, Isaacs demanded a mistrial.
- Judge Hixon storms out to deliberate and returns to rule that either the jury believes him or her, regardless of the statement from the victim.
- Closing arguments are powerful. The prosecution focuses on the photos and the nonsensical explanation of the defendant.
- The defense focuses on how much they drank and how her wounds didn’t appear to be bad enough to justify the story put on by the prosecution. The defense also stressed there was no motive.
- After deliberating for nearly 2 hours, a jury of 12 found the defendant guilty of all counts
- WATCH: ‘Dose of Reality’ for ’90 Day Fiancé’ Star – Court TV
