Paul Preece Jr., 51, a winner of the first season of Netflix's survival competition series "Outlast," was arrested on March 6 in Knox County, Tennessee, on charges of rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, and attempted rape of a child, according to court records.
Knox County Sheriff's Deputies took Preece into custody and booked him at the Knox County Jail, where he is being held on a $150,000 bond. He is due to appear in court on Tuesday for his arraignment.
If released, Preece will be required to wear a GPS monitoring device, according to jail records. A capias warrant was issued for his arrest, though authorities have not released further details about the alleged incidents or the identity of the alleged victim, according to People.
Preece, a resident of Seymour, Tennessee, gained national attention in 2023 after competing on the inaugural season of "Outlast." The Netflix reality series dropped 16 amateur survivalists into the Alaskan wilderness, where they competed in teams for a $1 million prize.
Preece initially competed as a member of the Delta team before switching to the Charlie team. He won the season alongside teammates Nick Radner and Seth Lueker, and the trio split the grand prize, Yahoo News reported.
A longtime outdoorsman, Preece has been described as an experienced hunter and fisherman who spends much of his free time in the field. He has hunted across the United States and abroad, but has said he prefers being at home in Tennessee, where he focuses on whitetail deer and other local game.
Preece also hosted a podcast called "Between the Horns," where he discussed hunting, the outdoors, and his time on "Outlast" with fellow contestants and guests. He has also appeared on hunting and outdoor podcasts and livestreams, sharing tactics and stories from his time in the wilderness.
Netflix has not publicly commented on Preece's arrest. The streaming platform continues to feature the first season of "Outlast," and the series was renewed for a third season in February 2025, as per the Los Angeles Times.
