A former HGTV competition winner has found herself amid legal trouble after allegedly driving her Porsche into a school staff member outside a Missouri high school during pickup.
Impatient reality star rams school staff member
Jennifer Bertrand, 50, who gained fame after winning the third season of HGTV’s “Design Star” in 2008, is now facing a second-degree harassment charge in connection to the incident at the beginning of the school year.
The event in question happened on August 20, around 3 p.m., when Bertrand, waiting in a line of cars to pick up her child, is said to have lost patience with the process.
Authorities claim that she decided to maneuver her Porsche sedan around the queued vehicles instead of waiting her turn.
In doing so, she almost struck another vehicle attempting to leave the parking lot, according to statements included in a probable cause affidavit.
The school staff member in question, who has not been publicly identified, was at the scene directing traffic for student pickup.
When he noticed Bertrand bypassing the line, he reportedly stepped in front of her car and spoke to her, explaining that she needed to wait in line like the other parents.
When asked to return to the back of the line, Bertrand allegedly refused to follow the rules of common decency.
She told the school staffer that she was in a hurry to collect her child due to an appointment and couldn’t be bothered to stay in the line.
At that point, the staff member reiterated that she could not cut ahead of others waiting their turn.
Details in the affidavit describe what happened next. Allegedly, Bertrand drove forward and hit the man in the right leg, causing him to lose his balance momentarily.
Reality contestant laughs as she runs over school staff member
At this time, he told Bertrand to stop, but according to the affidavit, she “began laughing and arguing with him.”
Surveillance footage corroborates the victim’s account, as reported by Platte County Sheriff’s Deputy Karl Lostroh.
After the initial strike, the school employee turned back to resume his job, but seconds later, Bertrand allegedly proceeded forward a second time, striking his right leg again.
According to the affidavit, she reportedly told him, “Don’t act like I hit you… I’ll see you in court,” before continuing her actions.
Security footage captured the entire incident, which supported the charges filed against Bertrand.
Deputy Lostroh noted in his affidavit, “I believe the defendant poses a danger to the crime victim or society because the suspect struck an innocent person with her vehicle and did not [show] any concern for his safety or the safety of children or other pedestrians.”
Platte County officials issued an arrest warrant for Bertrand last Friday, citing a cash-only bond set at $15,000.
It is currently unclear whether Bertrand has obtained legal representation for this case, and no court date has been confirmed yet.
Jennifer Bertrand achieved public recognition through her HGTV career after emerging victorious in the network’s “Design Star” competition.
Following her win, she hosted “Paint Over,” a short-lived show designed to assist families in revitalizing their homes. She also appeared on HGTV’s “Showdown.”
HGTV contestant sentenced for scam
Bertrand isn’t the only HGTV contestant to find herself in legal trouble recently. Another former contestant is heading to jail for defrauding investors out of nearly $10 million, according to officials in Santa Clara County.
Charles “Todd” Hill, 58, known for starring in HGTV’s “Flip It to Win It,” received a four-year sentence in April, following his conviction for grand theft with aggravated white collar crime enhancements.
The HGTV series, which aired in 2014, showcased teams flipping homes for profit. However, prosecutors uncovered Hill’s involvement in various fraudulent schemes, some dating back to before his TV stint.
Some see the huge amount of money in Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated. “Others, unfortunately, see it as a criminal opportunity – and we will hold those people strictly accountable.”
Hill’s scams included misusing construction funds for personal expenses and running a Ponzi scheme by embezzling investor funds meant for property purchases to bankroll a lavish lifestyle.
He masked his actions with falsified records and deceptive financial statements. One victim who invested $250,000 in a home remodel was shocked to find only a “burnt down shell” of a property, prosecutors revealed.
Hill’s extravagant spending spanned luxury cars, hotels, vacations, and a high-end San Francisco apartment. Beyond his prison term, he’s been ordered to repay $9.4 million in restitution and serve a decade of probation, the DA’s office confirmed.
