Dakota Mortensen, ex-partner of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Taylor Frankie Paul, received a scolding from a judge for allowing their 2-year-old son, Ever, to ride on a motorcycle. During a custody hearing on Wednesday, Commissioner Russell Minas advised Mortensen that such practices would cease.
"We're not gonna do motorcycles anymore," Minas stated, recommending that the child ride on "nothing with anything less than four wheels." The judge questioned the safety of a 2-year-old on a motorcycle, emphasizing the general requirement for "car seat or age-appropriate child restraints."
Mortensen's attorney argued that the child was wearing a helmet and that the ride on the "e-bike" was a short distance. The attorney also noted the helmet was visible in an exhibit photo, which they found surprising given Paul's alleged insistence otherwise. Mortensen's legal team confirmed he would adhere to the judge's guidance moving forward.
An insider close to Paul stated that Mortensen "never rode far" with Ever. Paul, 32, was reportedly pleased with the expansion of her parenting time with Ever, which now includes Monday mornings in addition to alternating weekends and a single weekday visit. Paul is reportedly "look[ing] forward to continuing to make progress at the next hearing."
Paul and Mortensen, 33, have been involved in a contentious custody battle for months. The situation escalated in March when Mortensen was granted temporary sole custody after accusing Paul of domestic violence; prosecutors later declined to press charges. Footage of a 2023 fight between the two led to Paul's arrest and the cancellation of her "Bachelorette" season.
Both Paul and Mortensen have filed for protective orders against each other, which were mutually granted in April. Paul's ex-husband, Tate Paul, also filed for a restraining order against her earlier this month, but that request was denied. Taylor Frankie Paul and Tate Paul were married from 2016 to 2022 and share two children, 8-year-old Indy and 5-year-old Ocean.
During Wednesday's hearing, the judge reminded both Paul and Mortensen not to speak negatively about each other on social media. Taylor Frankie Paul has previously implied on Instagram that Tate Paul and Mortensen had "teamed up" to teach her a lesson.