This American Idol contestant has a great voice and some sticky fingers.
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Antonella Barba allegedly stole less than $200 in merchandise from a Target in Ocean Township, New Jersey, on Aug. 10. And this isn't her first time on the wrong side of the law. We have the details below.
This "American Idol" Star Says She's "Not Guilty"
You may recall Barba from the sixth season of American Idol. She made it to the Top 16 before she was eliminated. Jordin Sparks ultimately won that season.
Her life post-Idol has had its ups and downs, and it seems like she is currently on a downward trend. As reported by the New York Post, the 39-year-old Barba allegedly hid some merchandise in a bag while going in and out of a fitting room and a restroom.
Police were called to the store at around 3:19 p.m. and approached her outside. Officers found the items in the bag she was carrying. She pleaded not guilty. She is scheduled to appear at Ocean Township Municipal Court on Nov. 18.
This Isn't Barba's First Brush With the Law
After American Idol, Barba starred in an episode of Fear Factor in 2012. She has also appeared in minor film roles and even starred in a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! back in 2018.
But Barba's troubles began in 2010, when she was caught stealing gloves from an Urban Outfitters on Broadway. She was then charged with two misdemeanors and sentenced to a day of community service.
In 2018, authorities caught her with cocaine and fentanyl in a shoebox inside a rental car. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials determined she had more than 830 grams of fentanyl. She was then arrested in Norfolk, Virginia.
Barba initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty. A judge sentenced her to four years in prison. She was released in 2021 and placed on a five-year term of supervised release.
When Barba was arrested on a domestic violence charge involving her former partner, it violated her federal probation. A warrant for her arrest was issued in New Jersey, and Barba was released on home detention. She was ordered to have no contact with her former partner.
