Exclusive
THE NEW RYAN
Teen Mom star Ryan Edwards has appeared to look healthier in rare new photos at his court appearance after three months of sobriety.
Ryan, 35, appeared in Hamilton County Sessions Court on August 14, where Judge Gary Starnes ordered him to enter Oasis halfway house after he completed a 28-day stint in rehab.
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The U.S. Sun can reveal exclusive photos of Ryan looking much healthier compared to previous court appearances.
Ryan sported a gray button-down shirt for the court hearing and topped off the look with black dress pants.
His hair and beard appeared to be freshly cut and trimmed.
Ryan appeared to be in good spirits, as he spoke to and laughed with his mom, Jen, dad, Larry, and aunt in the last row of the courtroom while waiting to be called.
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His appearance on Monday is a contrast to his April and July court dates.
On July 14, Ryan wore an orange Silverdale Detention Center jumpsuit for the hearing with his hands handcuffed and feet shackled.
His beard was unkempt and he appeared tired and worn out at the hearing.
As for the April 20 day in court, he looked disheveled and downcast.
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DAY IN COURT
The U.S. Sun exclusively reported Ryan will live in Oasis, a halfway house under his rehab Cadas.
Ryan was the first of his family to arrive to court, a U.S. Sun reporter at the hearing noted.
Ryan's mother, Jen, and father, Larry, arrived shortly after, as the three sat in the last row of the courthouse together with Jen's sister later joining them.
A prosecutor for the state began: "Mr. Edwards is still at Cadas Rehab. The state has no intention to resolve these cases until we see how Mr. Edwards is doing. I would love to hear an update from Cadas."
A representative from the rehab had the prosecutor and judge read a letter from the program.
The prosecutor said after reading the update letter: "There has been… we can give him a B plus. That’s pretty good for Mr. Edwards.
"Based on that letter, the state would ask, would order Mr. Edwards to go to Oasis. Based on the recommendation from Cadas."
The prosecutor then asked: "Has there been any family therapy counseling?"
The Cadas rep said: "Not yet. He will go to family counseling in Oasis."
Judge Starnes responded: "The letter sounds good. He’s doing really well. Looks like he’s been drug-free for three months and 25 days. Longest you’ve had in years and years. We’re happy about that.
"Continue treatment in Oasis. You’re supposed to have family intervention. Make sure you do that right away."
The Cadas rep confirmed the state will be notified immediately if he leaves the program.
The rep added: "He will be in Oasis tomorrow. He’s still in residential treatment."
The representative then asked about the furlough, as the judge released him from prison nine months early to enter rehab.
Judge Starnes said: "Let’s keep an eye on the furlough. He seems to be doing really well. Make sure we get this family intervention going right away."
Ryan's next court date is November 6.
Ryan's estranged wife, Mackenzie, and baby mama Maci Bookout did not attend court despite going to previous hearings.
MTV cameras were also not in the courtroom.
A description for the halfway house reads: "Oasis is a sober living facility that provides an environment designed to meet the needs of individuals who want to give up old behaviors and learn to make healthier choices.
"Through the use of traditional group processes, therapeutic guidance and workshops, Oasis provides the tools for those seeking a better quality of life."
PRISON RELEASE
Ryan was originally sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in Silverdale Detention Center in April.
He was released from prison on July 18 and entered Cadas Rehab in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Ryan was ordered to complete the 28-day program and then enter Oasis halfway house under the facility.
Cadas provides residents with group therapy, meditation, life skills workshops, relapse prevention workshops, recreational activities, and more.
The U.S. Sun exclusively reported from the hearing on Friday, July 14.
A representative from the rehab facility told the judge a bed would be available on July 18.
Judge Starnes said he viewed Ryan's over 200-page medical records that he described as disturbing.
He said: "He's going to need help with underlining things."
The representative from the facility said: "We will be making some sort of treatment plan. He can go there and then go to Oasis, the halfway house. They live there. He would also get the injection."
Judge Starnes ordered Ryan to get a hair follicle test to make sure he was clean before taking the shots to curb his opioid addiction.
The rehab representative confirmed Ryan is unable to leave the rehab facility unsupervised.
Ryan's lawyer then mentioned him having contact with his children Jagger, four, and Stella, three, as he "wants to speak with them on the phone."
The prosecution said Ryan's estranged wife Mackenzie "understands it's important for the kids to communicate through him, as they ask about him."
The judge agreed to lift the no-contact order so the kids can communicate through her.
Judge Starnes ruled: "We'll give you a furlough. It's time for you to go to the program. It's your last chance to do this. You need to do what you can. If you violate rehab, if you leave, you'll be charged with escape and you will get consecutive sentences."
He ended: "You don't want to spend two to three years in custody if you can get treatment."
REHAB PLEA
Ryan was previously in court on Wednesday, June 7, as his mom, Jen, and a representative from Cadas Rehab testified at the hearing.
The Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported that the representative from Cadas requested Ryan be sent to rehab when a bed is available and to begin Vivitrol shots to help curb his opioid dependence.
The U.S. Sun also reported from Ryan’s April 20th hearing regarding the four charges of harassment, driving under the influence and two charges of possession of a controlled substance.
Ryan was admitted into rehab on March 16 and discharged April 3.
The State's attorney called an officer to take the stand at the hearing, as the official explained of Ryan's April 7 arrest for a DUI and possession of a controlled substance: "I was dispatched for a white male in a white pickup truck who was unconscious and unresponsive. The vehicle was running in drive.
"The truck rolled into a curb on the driver's side. The curb stopped the vehicle. It was just Mr. Edwards. He was unconscious, unresponsive.
"Fire was there. They were using a lockout kit to gain entry to the vehicle. He did not regain consciousness until he was put in medical and administered Narcan.
"There were two small baggies on Mr. Edwards. A white-blue powder and a crystal substance."
A lawyer for the state then said: "He has a drug problem. He had an opportunity to pursue rehabilitation.
"He failed to do that. He was there for two weeks.
"He left the facility contradictory to the staff's advisement. The staff was trying to keep him there. He was ordered to be there for 45 days.
"He somehow got back to Chattanooga. Then a block from this courthouse, while so under the influence in his vehicle, he ran into a curb.
"He could've hit people. He's a danger to himself and the public.
"His option is to get clean or die. There will be a request for more rehabilitation.
"The opportunity he had he squandered. That is disrespectful to the court and makes a mockery.”
Ryan's lawyer then shared: "He's addicted to drugs. We all know there is a good person deep inside there wanting to get out. That person is hammered down deep because of the drugs.
"We all want the best for him and the community. We ask, at some point, not today, after Mr. Edwards receives sufficient time to be punished and think about what he's done to consider an alternative. We're all disappointed.
"It's a small town. We all know each other. We all know him. We want him to do better.
"There is a unique treatment option. I'm not asking the court to suspend his sentence."
They then called up the director of court services, who recommended Ryan receive monthly shots and attend a two-year program.
She said: "He would go into a residential program and at some point he would get a once-a-month shot. It curbs cravings coupled with treatment.
"Just a shot isn't going to do it. He says he will do that.
"He would go in and stay at our facility. Then step down to a halfway house, a separate living house. They do counseling for two years.”
'I AM TRYING TO SAVE YOU'
The judge added: "We all know Mr. Edwards and his family. He's a very fine young man. He's very talented at what he does. We've all watched him grow up. He is not a bad person. He just got addicted to hardcore drugs.
"He's an extreme danger to himself, he died on Broad Street and had to be brought back to life. You would've been dead. You should realize that. He's a danger to the public by driving his truck on drugs.
"Rehab won't be good because he won't do it. He needs to grow up, you know that. You have three kids. You may have some problems with your wife, but you have three kids. I'm trying to save your life.
"I'm going to revoke probation for 11 months and 29 days in custody. At some point, I may send you to rehab. You won't do it now. It's because the drug addiction is so strong. You can't do it."
“You have to grow up and want to save yourself. I'm going to do what I can to save you. If you come across someone at drugs at Silverdale stay away from them," the judge concluded.
MORE BUSTS
Ryan has been in and out of jail since earlier this year on drug, harassment and other charges.
He was arrested on February 10, 2023, at his job for harassment, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and order of protection violation.
He was then arrested for aggravated stalking and violating a protection order on March 1 after authorities issued two warrants for his arrest on February 23.
Ryan pleaded guilty to the harassment charge at a court hearing, The Ashley's Reality Roundup reported.
The former TV personality was ordered to complete rehab treatment and have no contact with the victim.
He was put on probation for 11 months and 29 days.
The possession of drug paraphernalia, stalking, and order of protection violation charges were dismissed.
As for his possession of a controlled substance, he was sentenced to rehab with the option of the time being reduced for good behavior after six months.
He was then arrested on April 7 for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence arrest after the Teen Mom OG alum was found unconscious in the driver’s seat of his truck.
RESTRAINING ORDER CLAIMS
Ryan has also been involved in a nasty split with his estranged wife, Mackenzie, 27.
Mackenzie filed a petition for a protection order against Ryan on February 8.
Mackenzie wrote in court papers of an alleged January 15, 2023 fight: “Arguing, Ryan punched holes in the walls and doors. [He] held me up by my neck to the wall. Threw me down in [the] hallway and said if he could not have me no one could.
“Opened pocket knife, put to my back like he was going to kill me. This was in front of children. I tried to leave, he smashed my phone, [and] took my car keys.”
In the petition, Mackenzie claimed of a January 24, 2023 fight: “[He] came into [the] bedroom where I was laying down. Pretending like he’s going to punch my face. Breaks [the] bed with me in it. Getting in my face [and] yelling.
“I went to get kids and leave. He wouldn’t let me leave. Threw me down in [the] living room. Threw menthol nicotine in my eyes.”
She then described a February 8, 2023 phone call where he threatened her, claiming: “Phone call threatening me, saying I’m not going to like what’s going to happen to me.”
The former MTV star initially requested Ryan have no contact with her and stay away from her home and workplace.
She requested temporary custody of their children though she did not ask they be protected from their father.
On February 9, the court issued a temporary order of protection.
Ryan told The U.S. Sun of Mackenzie's claims at the time: "I don’t speak for her. I never wanted to hurt her, just tried telling her. I would have loved to work on it because I still at the time wanted to."
Mackenzie did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun's request for comment on the petition.
MARRIAGE OVER
Mackenzie filed for divorce from Ryan on February 27.
She listed their separation date as January 2023 after he “became erratic and violent.”
Mackenzie, who married Ryan in 2017, requested to be the “primary residential parent” of their children, as she is “fit and proper.”
She requested Ryan provide child support for Jagger and Stella, as well as alimony for her.
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He also shares son Bentley, 14, with ex Maci Bookout, while Mackenzie also has a son from a previous relationship.
Ryan has opened up about his legal troubles, relapse, and divorce on the current season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.
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