'Teen Mom' Star Amber Portwood Charged in Assault Against Former Fiance

By Sarah Crow Posted Nov 18th 2010 12:45PM

Talk about baby mama drama!

'Teen Mom' star Amber Portwood has been slapped with a misdemeanor and two felony charges related to three assaults on former fiance Gary Shirley, Hollywood Life reports.

Portwood's home state of Indiana considers domestic abuse in the presence of a child felonious assault, which was the case in two of Portwood's outbursts toward Shirley. The third attack occurred while the couple's baby, Leah, was elsewhere. There has been speculation that misdemeanor charges may be brought against the MTV camera crew who filmed the assault and failed to intervene, as Indiana law requires witnesses to domestic or child abuse to report the crime.

Portwood's abuse against Shirley, which occurred on July 14th, 18th, and August 14th of this year, was captured on film by MTV camera crews, although one of the incidents was never aired.

Amber, 20, who recorded a domestic violence PSA that aired on MTV following footage of the assaults, could serve up to three years in jail and pay $10,000 in fines if convicted.

Despite her on-camera compunction, Portwood has been vilified in her hometown paper, The Herald Bulletin, who had the following to say of the star: "'Teen Mom' is not the national image Anderson wants. The next time you see our teen mom in the store, point out that she is hurting this city. We don't push our loved ones down stairs. We don't take pride that our teenage girls are 16 and pregnant. We don't all drop out of high school."

Portwood, who expressed her regret over the assaults to Dr. Drew Pinsky on the 'Teen Mom' reunion show, alleged that she "blacked out" during the attack in which she punched Shirley multiple times, claiming to only remember striking him once.

MTV issued a statement regarding their involvement in the fight, saying "Our role in 'Teen Mom' is to document how incredibly challenging and difficult being a teen parent is. In this particular instance, we monitored the situation to make sure no one was in imminent danger."

The Madison County Prosecutor's office has subpoenaed MTV for all of their unedited 'Teen Mom' footage for evidence.

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Tags: 16 and pregnant, Amber Portwood, teen mom

Comments

(225)

Friday 19 November

By Matt

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I'm so glad that someone actually did something about this. So often these reality shows record a situation like this and nothing is done. This girl is trash and does not deserve to be a mother let alone should be allowed to be the primary care giver of Leah. This world would be a better place if she was in jail. I also wanted to say that I think it's pretty funny that her husbands last name is Shirley. The way he let her treat him, Shirley fits PERFECTLY!

By reamaurice

I don't watch this show or anything else on MTV but as a GAL I cannot understand why SS or DSS hasn't stepped in. And I cannot even fathom the stupidity of showing yourself to be unfit parents on Television. Where is DSS?

By The Mustard Man

Amber's gonna have alot of SPENDY Legal issues ahead of her.........maybe she should star in some Porn to try and make some money to pay her Lawyers. Something like "Teen Mom's Suck - Literally" or "How I became a Teen Mom" or "Amber's Big Piehole".

By Jesse

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I'm insensed that Amber actually believes to have Leah in the room where she's taking out her frustration on Leah's father. I can't say how either Amber OR Gary are like when not being filmed, but there is no editing during the show. Amber has so much frustration and if she blows up while being filmed, how on earth does she treat Gary and Leah on a daily basis? Amber needs help, Gary needs to grow a pair and Leah needs a good family

By nicole

Number 1. At 20 you are not a teenage Mom
Number 2. You called this girl a"star". A star is brilliant by
definition. This one is definitely not too shiny.
These shows are disgusting. I do not watch it. Just happened to see the article.

By keira10103

Number 1. At 20, her baby is 2. She was a teen mom.
Number 2. The term "reality star" means a reality show starring Amber,etc. as the main characters.
Number 3. You don't like the show, and don't watch it. Why are you here opening your pie hole then?
Number 4. Amber is a horror of a mother, not every teen mom is that way.

By manderin

She should have been arrested a long time ago!!! She doesn't deserve to have that sweet baby in her custody (or at least until she can grow up and be the adult that she NEEDS to be). The ex should have custody of their daughter until further notice.....that's PRIMARY custody. It's obvious that the daddy loves this little girl and she needs that in her life. She doesn't need to see the anger outbursts that her mother has. This is a beautiful baby who doesn't need to grow up thinking that angry outburst and hitting people is ok!!!

By cherokekid24

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damn, that girl is ugly, how the hell did she ever get pregnant ?

doggy style lol

By Mary

YOU TOO CAN BE A STAR....DROP A KID....LET TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THE KID AND YOU.....NO SHAME!

By Misty

16 & Prenant and Teen Mom are you freaking kidding me? Why are these pathetic shows even allowed to be filmed and aired. They are simply glorifying that getting pregnant as a teenager is alright. What kids fail to realize that children cost money, you can't give them away when you are tired, stressed, or frustrated. How are they able to afford diapers, clothes, food, etc, other than state aide and the help of the grand-parents. MTV or any network should not air shows like this. Birth control is not expensive and neither are condoms. If they are sexually active at least they need to be responsible.

By cutecourter03

16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom aren't aired to glorify teen pregnancy or irresponsibility or ignorance. They're aired to show other teens the consequences of making bad decisions. Also, to show how difficult it is to be a teen parent and how much it changes your life and not always for the better. These are shows that have impacted a lot of teens lives and made them make better decisions in their lives so they don't end up in situations like this. As a 17-year-old, it has scared me out of having sex without the proper protection for fear of ending up in the situation that these girls have gotten themselves into. These shows do a lot of good in teens lives.

By RAS

Disgusting that this type of crap is on TV to glamorize irresponsibility and ignorance to our youth. If you allow your kids or teens to watch this nonsense you are " a special kind of stupid".On another note...It is about time women be held accountable for this type of behavior. Had it been the other way around..the boyfriend would have been locked up in a new york second and put on supervised visitation with the kid.

By Mary5831

I think she needs anger management and/or mental health help rather than jail time. She is obviously a disturbed person. I hope she never loses her temper with that precious little baby girl :-(

By stevek7

Another garbage TV show on the mentality level of Jerry Springer TV. Total trash...........

By Henry

This show should be banned and sued, All it's doing it telling 15 and 16 year olds if you have a baby at this age, you can get on TV. I'll never watch this sicking show and for the people that do, YOU NEED HELP

By Michelle

Are u people kidding me? She hurt him so what! People fight..People hit...if u can't handle it don't be involved or watch! U people act like p*ssy! This world is f*cked up as is and ur worried about this crap!

By JoJo

@Michelle- The world is the way it is becauase of people with your attitude. You need to grow up.

By Tanya

Should not matter who you are male/female. NO one deserves to be hit and/or abused. I feel for the child, and pray that she has never been abused as well. This young girl needs a reality check and have her child taken away from her till she gets the help she needs. Sounds like both families need counseling. Where were her parents when she was growing up...im sure this just didnt happen overnight!

Sunday 21 November

By Axel

I'm SO glad she's getting charged. I heard on the news that she got full custody of Leah and I was like ??how?? I feel like if it'd been him hitting her he'd be in jail in the blink of an eye. This is a huge case of a double standard and I'm so glad FINALLY there's some justice happening. I hope Leah is taken away from her at least until she proves she's a fit mother.

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