From stage lights to police lights: ‘American Idol’ stars who found themselves in trouble with the law
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IDAHO FALLS (Courtroom Insider) — Caleb Flynn, a 40-year-old man from Ohio, was convicted of aggravated murder on Tuesday for fatally shooting his wife and staging the crime scene to look like a home intrusion-turned-violent.
The crime made national headlines because Flynn was a contestant on “American Idol” in 2013, but he is not the only former contestant to end up in handcuffs after leaving the show.
Since the reality TV singing competition debuted in 2002, hundreds of hopeful stars-in-the-making have graced its stages. So, it should be no surprise that at least a few of them have had run-ins with the law.
Here is a collection of some of the most serious criminal cases involving former “American Idol” contestants:
CALEB FLYNN
What season?
Caleb Flynn appeared on Season 12 of “American Idol,” which aired in early 2013. His audition won him a coveted golden ticket to Hollywood, but he was eliminated before the live-performance rounds.
Details of the crime
Flynn was arrested in February 2026 and charged with one count of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness.
Ohio prosecutors said Flynn shot his wife — 37-year-old Ashley Flynn — as she slept in their bed in the early hours of Feb. 16, and then staged the home and garage to look like an intruder had broken in and killed her.
Flynn’s defense team argued that Flynn was sleeping in another room when Ashley was killed and woke up to the sound of gunshots. They said the intruder fled before Flynn could get a good look at the person.
During the eight-day trial in September, prosecutors also revealed that Flynn was having an extramarital affair with a younger woman in the months leading up to his wife’s death. They presented over 100,000 text messages between Flynn and the woman as evidence of the affair, some of which detailed how much Flynn said he hated Ashley and wanted her dead.
Verdict
After just over two hours of deliberation, a jury found Flynn guilty on all counts. He’s scheduled to be sentenced for his crimes on Monday, Oct. 5.
CALEB KENNEDY
What season?
Caleb Kennedy made it to the Final 5 on Season 19 of “American Idol,” which aired in 2021. But he was removed from the show after a video surfaced that showed him wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood.
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol,” Kennedy wrote in a social media post. “There was a video that surfaced on the internet, and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse.”
Details of the crime
A year later, Kennedy was involved in a fatal DUI crash in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in which he drove a vehicle into a building and killed a person, Fox News reports.
Kennedy was charged with one felony count of driving under the influence where death results.
Prosecutors said Kennedy had been using marijuana with a vape pen before the crash. But Kennedy’s defense argued that his impairment was caused by an increase in his prescription for Prozac, which caused a bad reaction.
Larry Duane Parris was inside the building that Kennedy crashed into and later died at a local hospital from injuries sustained in the crash, Country Music Nation reports.
Kennedy was only 17 years old at the time of the crash.
Verdict
In November 2024, Kennedy was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the sentence suspended to eight years. Fox News reports Kennedy was ordered to serve the first five years of his sentence in a South Carolina Department of Corrections facility, and then spend the remaining three years in home detention.
LAINE HARDY
What season?
Laine Hardy was the winner of Season 17 of “American Idol,” which aired in 2019.
Hardy had appeared in Season 16 of the show and was eliminated, USA Today reported. He hadn’t planned on competing again, but ended up on the show for a second time after accompanying a friend to their audition.
Details of the crime
A warrant was issued for Hardy’s arrest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in April 2022. News of his arrest came from Hardy himself, who posted this to his Facebook page:
- “Earlier today, I received a warrant due to allegations made against me and have been fully cooperative with the Louisiana State University Police Department. I understand that my career has thrust me into the public spotlight, and I embrace that wholeheartedly as my entire world belongs to my music and my fans. However, due to the sensitive nature of this allegation, I humbly ask for privacy at this time. I have the utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.”
Later, it was revealed Hardy was accused of hiding a recording device in his ex-girlfriend’s room at LSU, according to USA Today. Police reportedly found evidence of secret recordings made across 10 days that February.
Hardy was charged with one felony count of interception and disclosure of wire, electronic, or oral communication.
Verdict
In reaching a plea deal with prosecutors, Hardy was able to avoid jail time and was instead required to complete counseling and community service, according to The Biography.
BENJAMIN GLAZE
What season?
Benjamin Glaze is perhaps best known as the “American Idol” contenstant who received an unsolicited, on-air kiss from Katy Perry during his 2018 audition for Season 16 of the show. PEOPLE reports that after the episode aired, Glaze told reporters he was uncomfortable with the kiss, as he had been saving his first kiss for a “special someone.”
Despite the clip going viral, Glaze’s performance reportedly did not impress judges enough to secure a spot in the competition.
Details of the crime
In 2024, law enforcement in Tulsa, Oklahoma, opened an investigation into Glaze’s online activity, the Oklahoma Post reports. Detectives seized his phone and found Glaze in possession of more than 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, court documents state.
Glaze was charged with a felony count of aggravated possession of child pornography.
Verdict
In September 2025, Glaze was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the Oklahoma Post reports. The first 15 years of Glaze’s sentence are to be served in prison, with the last 10 suspended.
ANTONELLA BARBA
What season?
Antonella Barba made it to the Top 16 during “American Idol’s” sixth season in 2007.
Details of the crime
In 2018, she was arrested in Norfolk, Virginia, and pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl, Fox News reports.
According to the outlet, Barba’s defense team argued that her time on “American Idol” was partially to blame for Barba’s criminal behavior, saying that the abrupt change in Barba’s life led her to drugs.
Verdict
Barba was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison, Fox News reports.
RON BULTONGEZ
What season?
Ron Bultongez appeared in Season 16 of “American Idol,” which aired in 2018. The Dallas Observer reports he made it to the Top 24 before being eliminated.
Details of the crime
According to the outlet, Bultongez was arrested in 2021 and charged with four counts of sexual assault of a child in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The incidents occurred several times between Dec. 2020 and Feb. 2021, the teen victim alleged.
Verdict
In 2023, Bultongez accepted a plea deal for the sexual assault charge, The Dallas Observer reports. As part of the agreement, the charges were reduced from four counts of sexual assault of a child to one, for which Bultongez was sentenced to eight years’ probation.