Former 'Bachelor' Contestant Melissa Rycroft Pleads Guilty to DWI, Receives Probation
Melissa Rycroft, known from 'The Bachelor' and 'Dancing with the Stars', pleaded guilty to a DWI charge in Texas and was sentenced to probation, fines and community service.
Melissa Rycroft, a former contestant on "The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars," entered a guilty plea to a driving while intoxicated charge in Texas. A judge approved a plea agreement that sentenced her to 20 months of probation instead of a jail term, along with approximately $2,000 in fines and court costs.
Under the terms of her probation, Rycroft must complete 36 hours of community service, attend a DWI education program, undergo a substance-abuse evaluation, and refrain from consuming alcohol or illegal drugs. She is also required to submit to drug and alcohol testing when ordered and may not drive unless her vehicle is fitted with a camera-enabled ignition interlock device.
"I’m taking responsibility for my actions and moving forward," Rycroft said in a social-media post following her arrest in September 2025.
Police records indicate she was stopped for suspected DWI, and investigators noted discrepancies between her statements and witness accounts.