What Happened to 90 Day Fiancé's Geoffrey Paschel's Relationship After His 18-Year Prison Sentence?

90 Day Fiancé has been a massive hit for TLC. The reality show, which launched in 2014 and has since spawned a number of spin-offs, racks in millions of viewers each week and is a force to be reckoned with. In August 2021, Forbes reported the show “keeps scoring higher ratings than almost any other cable TV program” and a big part of its success is the drama.

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Many of the show’s most notorious couples have faced scandals on the show, but several cast members have also dealt with controversy off-screen. Perhaps the most notable is Geoffrey Paschel who appeared on season 4 of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days in February 2020.

Viewers watched Paschel travel to meet Varya Malina in her native Russia in 2019 while seemingly hiding his feelings for another woman named Mary Wallace, but the love triangle wasn’t Paschel's shadiest moment. As audiences soon discovered, the reality TV star had a dark and violent past. 

Geoffrey Paschel's Conviction and Prison Sentence 

Geoffrey Paschel may have pursued Varya Malina on TV, but in June 2019, he was living with another woman who accused him of domestic violence. He was arrested in his home in Knoxville, Tennessee, and in January 2020 (just a month before the show aired), he appeared in Knox County Criminal Court to face charges of aggravated kidnapping, domestic assault, interference with emergency calls, and vandalism.

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According to People, Paschel was accused of attacking Kristen Wilson Chapman, then taking the victim’s cell phone and forbidding her from leaving his home. A statement released by the Knox County District Attorney General's Office, which was seen by E! News, detailed the terrifying encounter and revealed that "Paschel grabbed the victim by the neck and slammed her head against the wall several times. She was also thrown to the ground and dragged.” 

Chapman was reportedly able to flee to a neighbor’s home and call for help once Paschel fell asleep. When authorities responded to the domestic disturbance call, they found her face and body covered with bruises and determined she had a concussion.  

When Paschel stood trial in October 2021, he testified that his ex’s wounds were self-inflicted, but his defense fell flat and he was found guilty on all counts. He was taken into custody to await sentencing and, in February 2022, Geoffrey Paschel was sentenced to 18 years behind bars without the possibility of parole.

Geoffrey Paschel's Criminal History

The June 2019 arrest wasn’t Paschel’s first and only run-in with the law. As it turns out, the reality TV alum has a lengthy criminal record, which begins with a 1997 arrest for drug possession with intent to sell. As InTouch learned, Paschel was 19 at the time and was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in jail after pleading guilty. Other convictions include two federal drug trafficking charges, as well as an arrest in 2000 for larceny and theft under $500. 

What’s more, Paschel was charged with “battery touch or strike” in 2006, felony larceny and theft for trying to steal over $500-worth of lights from Home Depot in 2013, and misdemeanor petit theft and felony “BATT/PUB TRNST” in 2014.

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Given his shady past, 90 Day Fiancé fans launched a change.org petition in March 2020 to remove Paschel from the show, arguing that he shouldn’t be given screen time because “he has been accused of kidnapping, abuse, rape, child endangerment, dealing drugs, felony larceny, theft and battery [and] he is barred from ever entering Canada.” 

Paschel responded to calls for his dismissal on Instagram, writing, “It is MY past. It is MY life. It is MY choice. If we were all the same: thought the same, looked the same, or acted the same, how lame would that be?” he asked his followers, adding, “I can never go back, and honestly, I would not have it any different.”

Is Geoffrey Paschel Still Engaged to Varya Malina?

Season 4 of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days ended with Geoffrey Paschel and Varya Malina seemingly putting aside their differences (and the fact that he appeared to be dating Mary Wallace) and getting engaged. 

According to InTouch, Malina moved to the U.S. in December 2020, but settled in Florida, not Tennessee where Paschel was living. Even so, they appeared to still be together while Malina built a life in Pensacola and made a living as a babysitter and influencer. 

When Paschal was found guilty and taken into custody, she stood by his side. In November 2021, she told fans she was selling her house and moving to Tennessee to take care of Paschel’s dogs. At the same time, she began fundraising for him on Instagram, writing, “By this, we all are giving Geoffrey an opportunity to clear his name and we are giving the children who have already been traumatized by social media cruelty, a chance to have their dad by their side when they need him.”

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As for whether the pair is still engaged (or even married), there has been no solid confirmation. However, Paschel was seen removing a wedding band from his left hand and handing it to his lawyer after hearing his guilty verdict in court. 

Another clue that they are still an item is the fact that Malina didn’t just support Paschel online. In April 2022, she visited him in prison for the first time and told fans on Instagram Stories that “the hardest thing I’ve ever seen in my life is my beloved one who is like an animal in a cage and I can’t do anything to help him right at the moment.” She said, “it feels miserable, the lowest low and I’m so emotionally exhausted.” Later, she wrote on Instagram that despite how difficult it was, “it was worth every minute.”  

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

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