Former ‘American Idol’ contestant Ron Bultongez arrested on charges of sex with minor
Former “American Idol” contestant Ron Bultongez, who made it nearly to the top during the 2018 season, has been arrested for alleged sex with a minor.
The singer, who made it to the top 24, turned himself in last Thursday in Grapevine, Texas, TMZ reported.
He stands charged with four counts of sexual penetration of a minor under the age of 17 on four occasions between December 2020 and February 2021, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
He was released from custody a couple of days later after posting $50,000 bond, TMZ said. A court appearance is pending.
Back in 2018, Bultongez appeared on the 16th season of “American Idol” but was eliminated shortly after making it to the top 24, according to the Dallas Observer.
Since then he has performed at large local venues, the outlet said, but label woes had prevented him from releasing a full-length album. With those issues behind him, he released a single earlier this month, “Get Back Up.”
“I think we can all agree that we’ve really fallen down, and I just think this record is really timely because we’re all looking for a way to get back up now,” Bultongez told the Dallas Observer last July. “I think the best way to do that is to extend a hand to one another.”
Bultongez is the third “American Idol” alum arrested this year, reported MJSBigBlog, which keeps fans apprised on all things “Idol.”
Country singer Cecil Ray was arrested in May, shortly after his elimination from the show, accused of abuse by his girlfriend, the blog said. Also in May, the “viral garbage man” Doug Kiker was arrested on domestic violence charges in Alabama.
