American Idol alum Antonella Barba’s legal troubles resurface in shocking arrest

Antonella Barba, best known for her stint on American Idol season 6, is making headlines again—this time for legal troubles. The 38-year-old singer was reportedly arrested on a domestic violence charge during a routine vehicle stop on March 30 by New Jersey's Point Pleasant Beach Police Department.

According to TMZ, a U.S. Marshals representative confirmed that Barba had a warrant out for her arrest. This warrant, issued two weeks prior, was linked to a domestic violence case. Adding to her legal woes, Barba was also found to be in violation of her federal probation from a past drug-related conviction.

After being taken into custody, Barba was released on home detention from Essex County Correctional Facility on April 1. A court order also required her to cease all contact with her ex-partner, K.H., and their family.

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A rocky road since American Idol

Barba first entered the public eye in 2007 as a contestant on American Idol. She made it to the top 16 before getting eliminated. Her exit from the show wasn’t exactly smooth. Around the same time, compromising photos of her surfaced online, causing a scandal. In 2011, she was charged with shoplifting in New York City.

While many American Idol contestants turned their time on the show into music careers, Barba struggled. She couldn’t stay in the spotlight for the right reasons. In 2019, she was arrested for attempting to deliver nearly two pounds of fentanyl. That arrest led to a 45-month prison sentence.

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Previous arrest and legal issues

Barba’s most infamous arrest happened in February 2019. She was caught trying to distribute a large amount of fentanyl. Authorities found nearly two pounds of the drug in her possession.

Because of the opioid crisis, fentanyl-related offenses are considered extremely serious. Prosecutors pointed out how dangerous the drug is and how many lives it has claimed. Given the severity of the charges, Barba was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison.

She was released in 2021 and placed on supervised probation for five years. At first, she followed the rules. But in July 2022, she moved out of her approved residence without telling her probation officer. That violation led to tighter restrictions. She was given a curfew and had to wear an ankle monitor.

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New allegations and a violent encounter

Barba’s latest legal troubles stem from an alleged domestic violence incident with her ex-partner, K.H., in November 2024. According to TMZ, court documents state that K.H. allegedly struck Barba with an open fist and cut her face with a ring.

After this alleged altercation, Barba sought refuge in a domestic violence shelter. However, she was reportedly removed from the facility after compromising its location by revealing it to K.H.

Barba has not publicly addressed the allegations.

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Following her latest arrest, Barba has been placed under home detention. Court documents confirm that she is required to remain at home until her scheduled court hearing on April 29.

This legal battle is another chapter in Barba’s troubled journey since American Idol. While some former contestants have gone on to successful music and entertainment careers, others, like Barba, have faced struggles outside the spotlight.

It remains to be seen what the court will decide in her case. Until then, Barba is confined to her residence, awaiting her next legal battle.