The Bachelor

Chris Soules might have just saved himself from showing his face in court for a while -- he entered a plea of not guilty on paper, instead of in person.

Chris filed a written plea Tuesday, waiving his right to an arraignment in open court. He pleaded not guilty to one charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

Chris was arrested in Iowa last month after he left the scene of the fatal crash with a farm tractor. Prosecutors say he bought booze before the crash.

Interesting delay tactic, but one way or another Soules WILL eventually have to show up in court.

'Bachelor' stars Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell are donzo ... the couple just announced they've split.

The announcement came Monday but the writing was seemingly on the wall before the proposal ever went down. Ben proposed to Lauren in season 20 of 'Bachelor' but the relationship didn't come without some pretty major hiccups. First, he told Lauren AND JoJo Fletcher he loved them both before ultimately picking Lauren.

Also ... Ben, 29, and Lauren, 27, called off their wedding back in November as they tried to navigate the relationship off-camera.

They told PEOPLE -- which first reported the breakup -- that it's "with heavy hearts we announce our decision to go our separate ways. We feel fortunate for the time we had together, and will remain friends with much love and respect for one another."

Nick Viall and fiancée Vanessa Grimaldi are ready to put down roots, and we've learned they're sticking in La La Land.

We've learned the 'Bachelor' couple's been looking in the trendy South Park neighborhood in downtown L.A. -- just a few blocks from Staples Center. So far, we know they took a liking to a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit in a 38-story luxury skyscraper. We're told they spent 45 minutes touring it.

They didn't sign on the dotted line because they want to check out a few more spots. Nick's current lease, courtesy of 'DWTS' -- is about to expire, so they've gotta move quickly.

During "The Bachelor" ... Nick insisted he'd return home to Milwaukee, and ditto for Vanessa and Montreal.

Look who's all Hollywood now.

Chris Soules bought booze before his fatal accident with a tractor, and was possibly drinking it at the time of the crash ... according to prosecutors in Iowa.

Prosecutors made that bombshell revelation in new docs filed Monday in response to Soules' request to dismiss the felony charge. As we reported, Soules' attorney is arguing he shouldn't be charged for leaving the accident because he identified himself to a 911 operator and stayed until EMTs arrived.

But prosecutors say Soules did attempt to dodge several facts around the accident, including "an explanation of the empty and partially consumed open alcoholic beverages located in and around his vehicle that he was seen purchasing at a convenience store shortly before the accident."

It's unclear if prosecutors have surveillance video or just an eyewitness who saw Soules at the store.

The Buchanan County Attorney adds ... Soules fleeing the scene made it impossible for officers to determine his "level of intoxication."

Chris Soules says he did everything he was legally required to do at the scene of his fatal accident, and his lawyers have just filed legal docs asking the judge to dismiss the felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident that results in death.

TMZ broke the story ... Chris was arrested and charged with the crime after slamming into a tractor on an Iowa road, killing the driver.

Chris' lawyer says the 911 call is bulletproof against any prosecution, because it shows Chris made the call, ID'd himself as the driver involved in the crash, and then he tried to help the tractor driver by checking his pulse. Only after EMTs arrived did Chris leave the scene.

As we reported ... Chris left before cops arrived and we know the police wanted to administer a field sobriety test. When they caught up with Chris at his home he refused to come out and it took hours to get a search warrant -- by that time any blood alcohol test was essentially useless. Chris' lawyers say drivers aren't required to stay at the scene of an accident until police arrive.

Chris Soules' lawyers are going after the Sheriff's Dept. and prosecutors, clearly trying to establish they're in bed with the media by leaking damaging information about Chris that could affect his right to a fair trial.

Lawyers for "The Bachelor" star have just filed legal docs looking to find all contact the Sheriffs, prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies involved in the case had with the media. The lawyers want text messages, emails, electronic log books (presumably this includes cell phone calls), journals and appointments between law enforcement and the media.

The docs also ask for any evidence that payment was offered to members of law enforcement for interviews or statements.

The lawyers are demanding law enforcement preserve all these records, presumably so they can be inspected.

As for why ... several reasons. First, Soules' lawyers have already complained media coverage has tainted the case and inaccurately portrayed their client's actions the night of the fatal crash.

Iowa cops have pulled out the legal guns to locate the vehicle that took 'Bachelor' Chris Soules from the scene of the fatal crash.

TMZ has obtained documents showing police have obtained a search warrant for the red Chevy. As we reported, after calling 911 and then checking the pulse of the tractor driver who later died, the Chevy came along, Chris jumped in and left before cops arrived.

Cops want the Chevy as evidence, although it's unclear why. Since the accident occurred Monday, any alcohol present in the vehicle would be irrelevant, since it would not prove what was inside at the time of the accident.

Cops are clearly interested in the results of the blood tests that were taken at the hospital hours after the accident. The search warrant allows police to obtain the results from the hospital.

Playing dirty on "The Bachelor" is just like the 2016 Presidential campaign ... according to "Silicon Valley" star Thomas Middleditch.

Turns out Middleditch is a huge 'Bachelor' fan and when we got him at LAX Thursday he told us he saw lots of similarities between last season's most notorious villain, Corinne Olympios, and candidate Donald Trump.

Thomas thinks Corinne's tactics weren't so far off from the ones Donald Trump employed against Hillary in the 2016 election.

Only one big difference though ... Trump won.

Lawyers for Chris Soules have just laid out some of their case, saying their client "acted reasonably and did everything in his power to provide aid to Mr. Mosher," the tractor driver who died, but they didn't say why Chris left before cops arrived and refused to come out of his house.

Attorneys Alfredo Parrish, Brandon Brown and Gina Messamer issued the statement, which covers a lot of what we reported Thursday. The say Soules did not flee the scene ... rather, he was the one who called 911 and identified himself as one of the individuals in the accident. They go on to say Soules attempted to resuscitate the victim and stayed until EMTs arrived.

They do not address Chris leaving before police arrived. We're told cops wanted to perform a field sobriety test and went to his home, but law enforcement tells us he refused to come out so they had to get a search warrant, which took hours. We're told cops found open containers of alcohol in his vehicle.

Chris Soules' fate in the fatal car crash could be determined by his cell phone ... and the stakes are high -- a possible vehicular manslaughter prosecution.

Law enforcement sources involved in the investigation tell us they're especially interested to know if Soules was a distracted driver by using his cell phone at the time of the crash. We're told law enforcement seized his phone and they will be looking at texts, photos, social media posts and his call log.

We're told Soules loved taking photos of sunsets as he drove down Iowa roads and regularly posted them on Twitter. He has now deleted his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

If it's determined Soules was using his phone at the time of the crash, our sources say a vehicular manslaughter charge is definitely on the table.

As for the charge he now faces -- the felony of leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death -- our Iowa law enforcement sources say they believe he'll be prosecuted but will not be convicted.

Our sources say the fact Soules is famous works against him, because prosecutors don't want to appear soft on celebrities. Based on what our law enforcement sources tell us, here's what Soules has working for and against him.

WHY HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED

-- Soules left the scene of the accident before cops arrived. This deprived law enforcement of determining if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Fact is ... since he was in a standoff at his house for hours before he was taken to a hospital where blood was drawn, there's almost no chance of determining if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

-- Open containers of beer were found in Soules' truck.

-- He did not provide anyone at the scene with his driver's license, proof of insurance and other relevant information.

-- He caused the accident by rear-ending the tractor.

WHY HE SHOULD NOT BE PROSECUTED

-- The 911 audio works to Soules' benefit in a significant way. He identifies himself by name and tells the dispatcher he was involved in the accident. He also administered first aid by checking the victim's pulse. It appears he left just as paramedics were arriving, so there's nothing more he could have done to aid the victim.

-- Soules sounds coherent in the 911 audio. So, even if he had a drink or 2, at least from outward appearances, he didn't seem intoxicated.

-- There were skid marks showing Soules tried braking before the crash. Also, one law enforcement source tells TMZ, based on the skid marks, it does not appear he was driving at an excessive speed.

Our sources say although they believe prosecutors will charge Soules, if the case goes to trial, "it's a loser." As one source said, "Iowa juries that understand rural life are not going to convict a guy who tries helping the victim before leaving."

Our sources believe this case will end up in civil court and Soules will settle by paying a substantial amount of money to the victim's family.

Chris Soules called 911 at the scene of the crash before booking it ... this according to the 911 audio.

You hear a winded Soules -- who also seemed coherent -- telling the dispatcher there was an accident with a tractor and a vehicle and says the tractor driver was injured and unconscious after being thrown into a ditch.

Soules interacted with the victim, checking his pulse ... saying he felt it. Soules also said the victim was bleeding from his mouth.

The 911 audio goes on ... the dispatcher asks if anyone could administer CPR. Someone is performing CPR but it's unclear if it was Soules.

Chris Soules was soft-spoken during his first appearance in front of the judge on his case.

Soules was in Buchanan County Court Tuesday morning -- the judge had to instruct him to speak louder, so the court recorder could actually hear him. KWWL was in court for the hearing.

The ex-'Bachelor' star was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

As we reported ... Soules was arrested for driving into the back of a John Deere tractor on the road Monday evening. The tractor flipped over, killing 66-year-old Kenny Mosher ... a local farmer.

Soules posted his $10,000 bond after court and was released. His rep says Chris "was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher passed away. His thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Mosher's family."

10:36 AM PT -- Police eventually found Soules at a residence but it took hours for them to get a search warrant ... this according to KWWL TV. It will therefore be difficult for prosecutors to prove he may have been under the influence at the time of the crash since hours passed before he was spotted.

10:10 AM PT -- We're told Chris just posted bond and will be released shortly.

7:45 AM PT -- Soules is in court now for his arraignment. TMZ has obtained documents in which police say he was in possession of alcoholic beverage containers at the time of the crash. Soules was apprehended after witnesses near the scene of the crash ID'd him and called police.

Chris is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

'Bachelor' Chris Soules is in custody after allegedly slamming into a tractor, killing the driver and then fleeing the scene ... TMZ has learned.

The incident happened in Iowa Monday at 8:20 PM. According to docs, Chris was driving a Chevy pickup and rear ended a John Deere tractor, sending it into a ditch. The driver was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.

Soules, who appeared on "The Bachelor" for season 19 in 2015, is in custody and we're told he received medical attention.

Soules was booked on the charge of leaving the scene with a death.

'Bachelor' star Nick Viall's big rhumba finish on 'DWTS' with fiancée Vanessa Grimaldi was very revealing ... damn near TOO revealing.

Nick scored a new personal record for his dance to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You". It's possible Vanessa helped him score a few extra points with their steamy makeout sesh at the end ... not to mention lifting her too high for her dress.

No hard feelings though based on the looks they were giving each other on their way out of the after-party. Next dance -- the horizontal mambo?

If anyone had doubts 'Bachelor' star Nick Viall and fiancee Vanessa Grimaldi were the real deal this footage from Sunday's "Dancing with the Stars" rehearsal should put those to bed.

Nick's dancing the rhumba to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" Monday night and looks like Vanessa's gonna join him for part of it.

He pulls her out of her seat and, at least during rehearsals, he had a really hard time letting her go ... especially once their lips locked.

Nick Viall and Vanessa Grimaldi are supposed to be engaged ... but you'd never guess it by the way they hang together when cameras aren't rolling.

Paps got America's newest favorite TV couple Thursday in Hollywood fresh off their 'Bachelor' finale earlier this week -- and they looked ... well, distant.

It's interesting ... they appeared cheerful as hell in front of a camera Tuesday in L.A.

But let's not forget their awkward onscreen reunion, which got people wondering if their post-'Bachelor' love was just a big sham.

Maybe they were having an off day ... you tell us.