Amy Slaton is doing her best to heal after her divorce from husband Michael Halterman after six years of marriage. But friends worry she’s heading down a dark path, a source exclusively tells In Touch after her recent arrest for drug possession alongside new beau Brian Lovvorn.
“Amy has been trying to put on a positive face and move forward without Michael, but she’s really struggling,” the insider says. “It was a huge shock to everyone when she was arrested for possession of marijuana and magic mushrooms a couple of months ago and her friends and family are pointing fingers at Brian.”
According to the source, Brian is new in her life and “no one trusts him at all.”
“They worry he’s taking advantage of her because she’s still very vulnerable. The feeling is that he’s a bad influence and she’s not thinking straight,” the insider continues.
Amy, 37, was taken into custody in Crockett County, Tennessee, on September 2 after being bitten by a camel during a visit to Tennessee Safari Park.
“An employee at the safari park called 911 reporting that they needed an ambulance because someone had been bit by a camel,” public information officer Stephen Sutton explained in a statement. “Upon arrival, deputies were immediately overtaken by suspicious odors coming from the guest’s vehicle.”
Amy – who was visiting the park with Brian and her two sons, Gage and Glenn – was “arrested on illegal possession of Schedule I, illegal possession of Schedule VI, and two counts of child endangerment.”
Officers discovered what they believed to be marijuana and mushrooms in the reality star’s car, claiming the items were “in plain sight.”
“The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.”
Amy was released on a $10,000 bond placed by brother Chris Combs the following day and pleaded not guilty to drug possession and child endangerment charges.
“The fact that she was charged with having drugs in the car when she was on a day out with her kids is horrifying. Her kids are her world to her and she’s putting them at risk and risking losing custody, clearly she is not in a good place,” the insider notes. “She was absolutely shattered by her divorce and still trying to pick up the pieces, it’s a very tough time for her.”
The 1000-Lb. Sisters star split from Michael, 41, in February 2023, and he filed for divorce one month later. Their divorce was finalized that October with the former couple agreeing to joint custody of their sons.
“I get the boys 70 percent of the time, Michael gets ‘em 30,” Amy later revealed.
Amy broke down over her divorce during an October episode of her TLC series.
“I want to get rid of these couches because they remind me of Michael. I can’t stand them and I want to get rid of them,” she told sister Amanda Halterman through tears. “Right now, I’m just going to focus on me, my mental health, my physical health, my outer appearance. I’m ready to change up the hair color. I just want to get some new hair and get rid of all this excess skin.”
