Melissa Rycroft is now facing suspicion of drunk driving and has been arrested in Texas, just months after she pleaded guilty in a previous case that spared her jail time. The winner of Dancing with the Stars had already completed her 20 months of probation.
According to Tarrant County jail records reviewed by Entertainment Weekly, Southlake police arrested the 43-year-old this Sunday, 1 November. She faces charges of driving while intoxicated, driving with an invalid licence and a collision-related offence involving vehicle damage.
Rycroft’s lawyer declined to comment, but EW understands that her combined bail was set at $9,000.
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An earlier crash led to probation
Rycroft’s previous arrest followed a September 2025 crash in which her Cadillac Escalade struck a tree. Police said witnesses had reported erratic driving beforehand. No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported, according to a police statement cited by People.
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She pleaded guilty in August 2026. Alongside probation and a $2,000 fine, the agreement required community service, a drink-driving education course and a substance-abuse assessment, Us Weekly reported. Rycroft’s probation conditions prohibited alcohol and required a camera-equipped ignition interlock device before she could drive.
In 2009, Rycroft rose to fame on The Bachelor when Jason Mesnick proposed to her. However, during the reunion programme, Mesnick broke off their engagement to pursue Molly Malaney, the show’s runner-up. She went on to win the all-star season of Dancing with the Stars.
