Josh Drummonds, known from MTV's 16 and Pregnant, has a post-show history marked by repeated arrests, imprisonment, and addiction, while his former partner Nikkole Paulun has moved on to marriage, motherhood, and a career as a social media influencer. Their relationship, documented in Season 2, ended shortly after their son's birth, but Josh's legal troubles escalated over the years, culminating in a federal prison sentence and a recent release followed by another arrest.
Early Legal Troubles and Prison
After the show, Josh's run-ins with the law began in 2011 when his mother reported him for stealing checks from her chequebook. He forged her signature to write checks totaling $270. In July 2011, he pleaded guilty to one count of larceny and two counts of forgery, receiving a sentence of roughly 12 months in jail, as documented by Starcasm.
Following his release in 2012, Josh was involved in a felony home invasion at Nikkole's mother's house, believing Nikkole was there. He resisted arrest by fleeing, leading to a four-year prison sentence. After serving that term, he briefly reunited with Nikkole, but the relationship turned abusive. Nikkole obtained a protection order against him, alleging severe physical violence and harassment, including graphic self-harm photos he sent to manipulate her.
Further Arrests and the 2019 Crime Spree
In early 2017, after moving to Texas, Josh was arrested for allegedly choking his stepsister. In September 2018, he was arrested after a hospital incident where he allegedly attempted to take a police officer's weapon and assaulted an officer. He was sentenced to more than eight months in jail. According to Galveston County's Daily News, the incident occurred while he was waiting to be transferred to a Houston psychiatric hospital after an alleged suicide attempt.
In 2019, due to methamphetamine addiction, Josh went on a violent crime spree in Houston, robbing an IBC Bank and a CVS pharmacy on the same day. He was convicted in federal court and sentenced to eight years in prison, ordered to repay $4,690 stolen from the bank and $176 from CVS. He was also arrested for meth possession with intent to deliver and charged with violating parole, according to The Ashley.
Release, Nikkole's Reaction, and Current Status
On 12 May 2026, Josh was released from federal prison after serving over six years, with orders to undergo mental health and drug treatment and vocational training. In a statement to The Sun, Nikkole said: "Josh and I have no contact, and there are currently no plans for him to see Lyle. I consider him a danger to my family and to society as a whole. The reality is that he has missed the majority of our son’s life, and a prison release doesn’t magically undo years of absence or suddenly make him a father now." She added: "I’ve spent those years raising my son and building a stable, happy life for our family. Moving forward, my focus remains on our safety and protecting my son as much as possible."
Just two weeks after his release, Josh was arrested again in Monroe County on older outstanding felony warrants, including home invasion and vehicle theft, but was released on bond. He currently resides in Monroe County, Michigan, under legal supervision.
Nikkole's Life After the Show
In 2013, Nikkole faced controversy when she announced a stillbirth, with rumours spreading that she faked it. Her former best friend Samantha-Jo Diggs publicly made allegations, but Nikkole denied them and released medical records. RadarOnline reported that the documents confirmed a stillborn son. Nikkole told the outlet: "I’ve cried all day about it... it hurts. Everything that I have said is completely true and the rumors are just, mean."
While Josh was in prison, Nikkole welcomed daughter Ellie with ex-boyfriend Ryan Rice. She married Kyle Ledda in 2020 and had another child, Bodhi, in 2021. In early 2026, she went viral after watching her 16 and Pregnant episode with her son, Lyle, who described his father's behaviour as "wilding" and "a hard watch." Nikkole now lives in Michigan, working as a digital creator and influencer on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
