James McCoy Taylor charged with restraining, assaulting 19-year-old college student

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -Singer, songwriter, and ex-reality TV contestant James McCoy Taylor is again facing criminal charges in Aggieland.

The 38-year-old from Katy was arrested at a Northgate bar this past week by police after warrants were issued for his arrest.

In this recent case, Taylor is accused of meeting a 19-year-old Blinn College student at Northgate bar in April and bringing her back to a home in Bryan when he allegedly assaulted her and prevented her from leaving.

An arrest report obtained by KBTX says after the two met in Northgate on Wednesday, April 24, they left the bar and returned to a condominium Taylor had been staying in on W. 22nd Street in Bryan. Once there, the two kissed in a bedroom but the survivor told police she changed her mind and wanted to leave after she began to feel uncomfortable being there. She told police Taylor started to get “very serious and intense” and “got a look on his face that frightened her.”

During this time, according to the police report, the survivor went into a restroom and called a friend who ordered an Uber so she could leave. When she exited the restroom, the woman told police Taylor was found nude on the bed. She asked him to put his clothes back on and told him she wanted to leave.

The arrest report says Taylor walked the woman down to the front door and when she opened it, he slammed it shut and began forcibly kissing her. He then allegedly threw her to the ground, got on top of her, and groped her private area, the report says. The woman told police she was eventually able to break free and escape out of the front door and got into an Uber that was waiting outside.

Bryan police met with the accuser the following day and noted multiple contusions were seen on the survivor’s hip and buttocks. Officers also observed the text messages that were sent between the woman and her friend that matched her story of what happened. Some of the texts said “Please come get me”, “I’m not ok”, and “He’s forcing himself on me.”

When police spoke with Taylor about the allegations, he reportedly told them the encounter was “enjoyable and consensual” and he denied ever shoving her to the ground and getting on top of her. Police noted in their probable cause affidavit that they did not believe Taylor was being truthful with them about what happened.

Taylor was taken into custody in the early hours of Sunday, August 4 after he was located by police at a bar in Northgate. He was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center on charges of Assualt Causing Bodily Injury and Unlawful Restraint. He was released on bonds totaling $8,000.

In a statement sent to KBTX following his arrest, Taylor again denied the allegations.

“So let me get this straight. Not so much as a scratch on me as I showed to police via pictures of my whole body which was awkward, to say the least, and I’m a pretty big guy, but I was trying to ‘unlawfully restraint’ a girl and she just .. got away? And walked right to her Uber right outside my House? With no injuries? Okay, got it. This makes tons of sense,” Taylor wrote. “Trust me if there were any injuries they’d be all over the internet.”

The woman’s father tells KBTX that after this happened, his daughter left Blinn College and moved to another school in the state as a result of this incident.

In the statement shared with KBTX, Taylor admits to not remembering the woman’s name but references her family who he says has confronted him about what happened. Taylor goes on to say, “I would never hurt anybody. I’m nice to every person I meet. That’s my statement. Now go ahead and trash my life because you hate my political stances or for the views, you’ll get on TikTok.”

Taylor may be best known for his appearance on The Bachelorette: Season 12. He made national headlines in 2021 after he threatened to sue several media outlets that he claims falsely reported he was part of the January 6 capitol riot. Since then, he has amassed a following among conservatives on his social media platforms that often feature songs and reels that are critical of Democrats.

In 2022, Taylor was arrested in College Station on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated and Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. During that arrest, police noted in their arrest report there was an 18-year-old “college freshman companion” in the pickup that Taylor had just met at Northgate and he said he was planning to take her back to her dorm room. Police went on to write in the report that she was impaired and “was not in any kind of condition to appraise the benefits and risks of the situation she was in.”

During the arrest, police said he became verbally abusive towards the officer, called him “an idiot” among other things, and made threats to have the officer fired and would press charges.

In 2023, Taylor was found guilty on those charges but only sentenced to serve 5 days in the Brazos County Detention Center and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $585 in court costs. His punishment also included a temporary suspension of his driver’s license.