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IN GOOD SPIRITS
Teen Mom’s Ryan Edwards and girlfriend Amanda Conner laugh while arriving to court as he sports black eye for hearing
Ryan met Amanda in rehab over the summer
TEEN Mom: The Next Chapter star Ryan Edwards was all smiles with his girlfriend, Amanda Conner, as the two arrived to court for his hearing.
Ryan, 36, and Amanda, 33, arrived to Hamilton County General Sessions Court on Tuesday, April 23 for a check-in hearing for Ryan's possession of a controlled substance, DUI and simple possession charges.
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In exclusive photos obtained by The U.S. Sun, Ryan and Amanda could be seen smiling and laughing as they walked to the court room.
The two appeared happy as they walked close to each other.
Ryan wore a purple polo shirt with black dress pants for the hearing, while Amanda dressed in a pink shirt and high-waisted white jeans.
The Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star sported a black eye and a cut on his arm, which is likely from a recent ATV accident.
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His mother, Jen, and aunt joined them moments later, as she sat with Amanda while Ryan spoke to his lawyer.
While in the courtroom, Amanda sat next to Ryan and Jen, as the two chatted before the hearing began.
'WELL DONE'
The U.S. Sun reported exclusively from the hearing that Judge Gary Starnes praised Ryan in court.
Judge Starnes said, "We're here for a follow-up to see how you're doing. I don’t see any probation violations. You have been drug-free for over a year. That’s an accomplishment. I’m glad you’re doing well.
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Ryan’s lawyer then handed over paperwork for his counseling from CADAS rehab.
Judge Starnes said, "I want you to stay with CADAS. I know there hasn’t been any problems."
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He then revealed Ryan has a new job working with car engines.
Judge Starnes continued, "Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re coming a long way, very well done. I know you’re happy."
District Attorney Coty Wamp said, "Well done from the state."
Ryan will be back on court on November 18.
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LEGAL TROUBLE
Ryan was originally sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in Silverdale Detention Center in April 2023 for the possession of a controlled substance, simple possession and driving under the influence charges.
He was released to rehab in July and to a halfway house in August, where he met his girlfriend Amanda.
RYAN’S PAST ARRESTS
Ryan has been in and out of jail since early 2023 on drug, harassment, and other charges.
He was arrested on February 10, 2023 at his job for harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and order of protection violation.
He was then arrested for aggravated stalking.
He violated a protection order on March 1 after authorities issued two warrants for his arrest on February 23.
Ryan pleaded guilty to the harassment charge at a court hearing, The Ashley's Reality Roundup reported.
The MTV star was ordered to complete rehab treatment and have no contact with the victim, as he was put on probation for 11 months and 29 days.
The possession of drug paraphernalia, stalking and order of protection violation charges were dismissed.
As for his possession of a controlled substance, he was sentenced to rehab with the option of the time being reduced for good behavior after six months.
He was then arrested on April 7 for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence arrest, which are the same charges as his current court case, after he was found unconscious in the driver’s seat of his truck.
NEW ROMANCE
Ryan and Amanda began dating over the summer of 2023 while in rehab.
Ryan completed 28 days in CADAS in July 2023 and then moved into Oasis halfway home.
The U.S. Sun obtained exclusive photos of Ryan and Amanda walking from their halfway house, which is on the same property as CADAS rehab, to the main building for group therapies and workshops on August 15, 2023.
"They met and started seeing each other at rehab. He doesn’t take anyone on his bike unless it’s a thing. No friends [are allowed],” a source told The U.S. Sun at the time.
The source continued, “Choosing to use your time on and the type of people you’re surrounding yourself with is not okay.
“This girl is dangerous.”
A source close to Amanda previously told The U.S. Sun that she is known in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for her "bad girl reputation."
The insider claimed, “Amanda is trouble. She has been in and out of the system since she was old enough to catch a charge. She is not a good influence on Ryan.”
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CRIMINAL HISTORY
The U.S. Sun obtained court records from a series of Amanda’s arrests.
Amanda's arrests include theft under $500 in February 2009, where she received a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days and was placed on probation, according to the Hamilton County Court website.
In June 2016, she was arrested for theft of property.
She received the same judgment of a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days.
On September 22, 2016, Amanda was arrested on multiple warrants.
The incident report read, “Upon arriving to Hamilton County Jail, Amanda was subject to a strip search due to a history of narcotics charges.
“Female jail staff found a small zip lock plastic bag containing a white crystal substance that [Conner] stated was meth. The bag was located in [Conner’s] bra.
“The substance is consistent with meth with an approximate weight of less than [half] a gram.”
She was charged with simple possession. She had a bond set at $6,000 and she pleaded guilty on March 23, 2017.
She received a jail sentence of 11 months and 29 days.
In August 2017, she was arrested again for possession of controlled substance.
She pleaded guilty and was ordered to CADAS rehab.
Amanda was then arrested by the Chattanooga Police Department on April 25, 2018, after a call was made for a suspicious person at a CVS.
The report read, “Another officer conducted a pat down of the female suspect. [The officer] located a small lump in the left side of [Conner’s] bra. When asked about it, she offered to remove it from her bra.
“She removed a small clear baggy of methamphetamine from her bra and a small clear baggy of light tan power that appeared to be heroin.”
In the vehicle, the officer found spoons and small clear plastic bags “commonly used for selling narcotics.”
The report continued, “During the interview, [Conner] gave a spontaneous utterance that she sells narcotics.”
She was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substance.
Amanda entered a guilty plea on July 12, 2018, and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail.
The sentence was suspended and to be served on probation because of good behavior.
On June 31, 2022, an officer from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office stopped Amanda when he observed no registration displayed on her car.
The report read, “The above violator owned marijuana, drug paraphernalia and multiple food stamp cards and debit cards that belonged to other people.”
She was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fraudulent use of credit/debit card.
The possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.
For the fraud charge, she received a suspended sentence for good behavior for 11 months and 29 days to be completed in probation.
On June 21, 2023, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office arrested Amanda on warrants for driving under the influence, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
These charges are what landed her at CADAS rehab at the same time as Ryan.
Most recently, she was busted on August 19, 2023 for drugs general category for resale, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and contraband in a penal institution.
All charges were dismissed by the District Attorney’s Office.
Amanda did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun's request for comment at the time.
TURNING THEIR LIVES AROUND
Amanda appears to have turned her life around as well, as she has not been involved in any legal trouble in recent months.
They even took a family photo together with Ryan's son Bentley, 15, and his mom Maci Bookout and stepdad Taylor McKinney on Easter.
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Amanda and Ryan are now living together as of earlier this year.
The two often post each other riding their motorcycles and fishing.
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