In June 2023, The Hollywood Reporter published a report about allegations against Zachery Ty Bryan. The report said Bryan was accused of running a fraudulent agriculture-technology startup scheme. Four sources told the publication that they each paid Bryan amounts between $5,000 and $25,000. They said Bryan gave them contracts that appeared valid but had no actual value. The report stated that Bryan earned close to $50,000 through this alleged scheme.
Legal troubles with fiancée Johnnie Faye Cartwright
Bryan was first arrested in October 2020 in Oregon for allegedly strangling his then-girlfriend during a domestic incident at a home. He later pled guilty to two domestic violence misdemeanour charges and received 36 months of probation. In 2023, Cartwright publicly supported him and said she wanted the best for the father of her children. She stated that trauma creates different struggles and claimed the truth often differs from public reports. She also requested privacy for their children so the families could begin healing. In 2024, Bryan was arrested twice for driving under the influence, once in February and again in October. In 2024, he also faced charges including fourth-degree felony assault, third-degree robbery and misdemeanor harassment. He later pled guilty to fourth-degree felony assault involving domestic violence and received seven days in jail. He avoided a longer prison sentence after agreeing to a negotiated settlement with prosecutors. He was placed on 36 months of supervised probation with standard domestic-violence conditions. The court ordered him to avoid contact with the victim unless approved by his probation officer. His probation is scheduled to continue until October 2026. In January 2025, Bryan was arrested in South Carolina on a second-degree domestic violence charge. A police report stated that the woman involved said she was assaulted by Bryan inside the home. She told officers that he choked her and punched her several times during the incident. The woman involved in the incident was his partner, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, with whom he has three children. On 29 November 2025, Bryan was arrested again in Eugene, Oregon, for allegedly violating probation linked to his earlier domestic violence case. He was taken to Lane County Jail and held without bail according to jail records. He is listed for release on 3 December 2025, based on the jail schedule. His fiancée, Johnnie Faye Cartwright, was arrested the same day and booked into the same jail. She faces five charges including one DUI count, three reckless-endangering counts and one attempted first-degree assault count. She remained in custody as of 30 November 2025. Bryan later told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that finding long-term stability in the industry after Home Improvement ended was very difficult for him.
Guilty of scamming money
In 2023, the Superior Court of Los Angeles issued an order against Zachery Ty Bryan and his company Lost Lane. The court directed Bryan and Lost Lane to pay $108,940.57 to an investor. The court found Bryan guilty of taking money through a scam linked to a film project. The investor was told the film would feature Thomas Jane, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Alex Pettyfer.
Arrests for DUI
On 17 February 2024, Zachery Ty Bryan was arrested in La Quinta, California after a traffic collision. Police said he was taken into custody for an alleged DUI. He was charged with misdemeanor contempt of court and a felony for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This incident marked his fourth DUI charge. Bryan was released the same day after posting a $50,000 bail. A court hearing in the case was scheduled for 3 April 2024. On 27 March 2024, officials announced an additional felony charge against Bryan. This new charge related to driving under the influence after having three or more DUI convictions in ten years. On 24 October 2024, Bryan was again arrested in Custer County, Oklahoma for DUI. This was his second DUI arrest in the year 2024. He was also charged with driving without a valid license during the Oklahoma arrest. Jail records showed he was booked shortly after 8:30 a.m. that morning. The Oklahoma DUI case was listed as a “driving under the influence – second felony offense.” On the day of his booking, Bryan was released after posting a $65,000 bail. On 29 October 2024, dashcam footage released by Fox News showed Bryan refused a sobriety test during the arrest. The footage also showed Bryan admitting that he had driven after a night of drinking. In the video, Bryan said the DUI charge that caused his license suspension was issued in 2021.
