Cashel Barnett, a former contestant in the dating reality TV show Love Island USA, has been accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend. In March, Barnett’s then-girlfriend says that she had told Barnett, 34, to get a job to help her support their infant daughter. In retaliation, Barnett withheld sex from her for about a month. On April 10, during a heated argument about the couple’s intimacy problems, Barnett reportedly “grabbed her from behind, pushed her head into the couch, causing her to lose consciousness, then raped her ‘violently,’” according to the indictment. Barnett was previously charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, and two misdemeanors for an account of physical abuse reported by his ex-girlfriend. She alleged that Barnett “slapped her arms, picked her up by her neck using both hands and slammed her onto a bed,” and throttled her, according to the police report. Barnett was arrested last month and has been held in a Salt Lake City jail since. Now, his ex-girlfriend’s allegation of sexual assault will be added to the laundry list of charges he will face in court. Barnett maintains his innocence.
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