- Cashel Blew Barnett, a former "Love Island" contestant, faces new felony charges.
- He is charged with aggravated sexual assault and domestic violence involving a child.
- The charges follow similar charges filed for an alleged incident in April.
SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man who gained notoriety on the reality TV show "Love Island" is facing felony domestic violence charges for the second time in a little over a month.
Cashel Blew Barnett, 34, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony; plus aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child, third-degree felonies.
The charges stem from an incident in December. A woman, who is the mother of Barnett's child, reported to police that she had been in an argument with Barnett and told him he needed to get a job to help support their daughter, according to charging documents. In an apparent response, "(she) said as a form of punishment, Barnett withheld sex, kissing, and hand-holding from her."
About a month later, Barnett became angry and physically and sexually assaulted the woman, the charges allege, adding that she lost consciousness during the assaults.
Barnett "manipulated and gaslit the victim when she requested that he get a job to help support their child. (He) told the victim he was a 'house slave' and she was 'ruining his dreams,'" the charges state. "The victim reported that when (Barnett) abused her, he told her it was her fault and she felt like she was 'going crazy.'"
Barnett is also accused of assaulting the same woman in April. He was charged in 3rd District Court in that incident with aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child, third-degree felonies; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.
Police say the two got into an argument on April 10. When the woman attempted to calm Barnett down, "he responded by slapping her arms away," according to charging documents. He then followed her into a bedroom and "picked (her) up by the neck with both hands, and slammed her onto the bed. (She) said that Barnett applied continuous pressure … during which time she was unable to breathe and her vision went blurry. Barnett then slapped (her) in the face and said, 'You're fine.'"
A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for July 7.
Barnett appeared on the first season of "Love Island" in 2019.
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Utah Survivor Services: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
