Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba has been arrested and charged with allegedly shoplifting from a Target store in New Jersey. The 39-year-old was charged with stealing items worth less than $200 from the Target at the Seaview Square Shopping Center in Ocean Township on August 10, according to police.
Incident Details and Police Response
Police said they were called to the store around 3:19 p.m. after Barba allegedly concealed items in a bag while moving in and out of a fitting room and restroom. According to authorities, she left the restroom and immediately exited the store before officers approached her outside and allegedly found stolen items in the bag she was carrying.
Barba pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear before the Ocean Township Municipal Court on November 18. The latest arrest adds to a string of legal troubles involving the former reality TV star.
Previous Legal Troubles
In 2010, she was arrested in Manhattan for allegedly stealing $18.81 worth of gloves from Urban Outfitters and was later sentenced to one day of community service. In 2018, Barba was arrested in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. She was sentenced to 45 months in prison and served time from 2019 to 2021.
Recent Arrest and Court Proceedings
She was also arrested on a domestic violence charge involving her former partner in March 2025. The current shoplifting charge adds to this history, with Barba now facing another court appearance in November. The case will proceed in the Ocean Township Municipal Court, where she will respond to the charges.
