Reality TV

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.

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.

La La Anthony didn't let her split from Carmelo Anthony keep her from spending her weekend in one of NYC's top strip clubs ... but this time, it was more business than pleasure.

We've learned La La hit up Sapphire New York on Friday night -- but sources tell us she wasn't throwing around singles and partying it up, she was there to shoot footage for her new TV show.

La La is a producer on a docu-series called "Goal Diggers" -- about women in risque industries (strippers and video girls) who break out and become mainstream businesswomen.

We're told one of the women in the series works at Sapphire, so La La and some crew members hit up the club to shoot footage.

It just so happened her good friend French Montana was there (he was there to party) -- so they kicked it together inside the building.

We spoke with French in NYC on Monday who told us La La is doing so well since the split, he came up with a new nickname for her.

Jake Harris was arrested this weekend for stealing a car and drug possession ... this after a long history of run-ins with the law.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the ex-"Deadliest Catch" star and a lady friend drove down to Phoenix from Washington state last week for what they called a "vacation." We're told the woman is married ... but that the 2 have hung out like this before.

Friday morning, the woman told cops she discovered Jake had split from their hotel ... taking her car in the process. We're told she reported the car stolen when she couldn't get a hold of him, but called the cops when she found him at a Circle K the next day.

Phoenix PD officers showed up and searched him, where they say they found Xanax pills and crystal meth ... which we're told he admitted were for personal use. He was booked for 1 count of felony theft and 2 counts of felony drug possession.

This is the latest legal run-in for Jake -- who was busted for DUI in 2010, and then, on the flip side, was robbed, beaten and tossed from a vehicle in November in Washington. At the time his brother, Josh, said Jake was seriously injured.

One of Kim Zolciak's sons is in the hospital recovering from an operation after he was bitten by a dog this weekend.

Kim posted a pic Sunday of 4-year-old Kash Kade Biermann in a hospital bed, with a pretty gnarly description. Apparently, he's been there since Saturday night after he was bitten by a dog ... which sent him to the operating room.

In the post, Kim says Kash suffered "traumatic injuries" and the operation lasted a couple hours.

The whole family seems to be there by his side. Kim noted she'd be missing her guest spot on Andy Cohen's show Sunday night.

The ex-employee Vicki Gunvalson claims she caught red-handed embezzling is going to be locked up soon enough ... if she gets her way.

We got the star of 'Real Housewives of Orange County' out Saturday night at Craig's with her squad -- who had A LOT to say about interracial dating btw -- before she launched into a rant about the guy she's labeling a crook.

We broke the story ... Vicki called cops after one of her new hires allegedly siphoned commissions from her biz, and there's an open investigation now. She's clearly gunning for prosecution.

Randy Jackson's totally down for getting the "American Idol" band back together ... if someone else takes the lead and makes it happen.

We got Randy at LAX ... he repeatedly confirms with our guy he's in for a reboot, but suggests one of the other former stars of the show is the linchpin.

Kim Zolciak's coming back to 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' -- she's officially signed on to return this Fall ... TMZ has learned.

'RHOA' production sources tell us Kim will shoot for season 10, although we're told it'll be a limited role. The show wanted her back as a full-time cast member, but obligations to her other show, "Don't Be Tardy," only allowed her to sign for a part-time gig.

We're told NeNe Leakes hasn't signed on yet, though she's made it clear that IF she does return she should get more dough than Kim.

Here's the way it could work ... since Kim will only be part-time, if producers can convince NeNe to be a full-fledged cast member, they would pay her considerably more than Kim ... problem solved.

Jackie Warner has been charged with assaulting a cop and DUI, but her lawyer says Jackie was "driving unconscious" so the charges are bogus.

We've learned the former Bravo star has been charged with felony assault on a police officer, misdemeanor DUI and misdemeanor hit and run.

The hit and run is based on Jackie clipping a cop car and then leaving the scene.

Cops tell us Jackie blew a .08 at the time of the incident. She says she had one martini earlier in the day and that's it.

Jackie has said she had taken an Ambien at home and the next thing she knew she was in the hospital under arrest. When she crashed her car she wasn't wearing pants.

Her lawyer, Shawn Holley, tells TMZ, "We have letters and reports from Jackie's doctors which prove a long history of insomnia and which strongly support our contention that Jackie was driving unconscious after taking Ambien, which had been prescribed to her."

Holley goes on, "I reached out to the D.A.'s Office weeks ago and was assured that deputies would review our reports before filing charges. We are extremely disappointed that the D.A.'s Office filed these charges without reviewing our evidence, as promised."

Lisa Vanderpump's track record as an ordained minster is taking an L because the first couple she ever married just filed for the big D.

Magno and Dominic Salva were the first gay couple to get hitched at Lisa's Pump restaurant, which sits smack in the middle of WeHo.

They got hitched in November 2014 but the marriage hit the rocks. They filed for divorce this week.

It's a pretty clean divorce ... they have no kids and neither wants spousal support. Dominic wants his name restored to Dominic Carlos Pierson.

Andy Cohen thinks the 'Survivor' contestant who outed his fellow castmate as transgender did a terrible thing, but believes there's a silver lining.

We got Andy Thursday at LAX where he was clearly disgusted by what went down -- Jeff Varner telling the whole tribe Zeke Smith is transgender. Andy told us what he'd like to say to Jeff, and didn't pull punches.

He did see some good news in how the rest of the cast responded. Varner has since apologized.

Joanna Krupa knows it's that time of year ... time to bust out your best pastels for Easter, and lucky for us ... she's doing it in a bikini that shows off her perfect beach bod.

The model and former 'Real Housewife' hit the beach in Miami for an afternoon dip in the ocean. Her friend and yoga instructor, Christina Kotalik, joined her too ... which was nice.

"Survivor: Game Changers" star Jeff Varner apologized again for outing his transgender co-star during Wednesday's tribal meeting, comparing the move to assault.

Jeff wrote a lengthy apology to Zeke Smith, who was born a woman, saying he "recklessly revealed something I mistakenly believed everyone already knew."

Jeff went on to say ... outing someone is assault since it robs a person of their power and protection.

Jeff outed Zeke to save himself at the tribal council. Most of the others jumped to Zeke's defense.

Christina El Moussa's pissed her good looks are being used to hawk an anti-aging product -- she's only 33, but she says the real issue is she never endorsed it ... so now she's threatening to sue.

Christina's name popped up in an online campaign claiming she's the face of a skin care product line that's made her rich beyond her wildest dreams. It's one of those Internet ads you see dozens of times a day, but Christina says it's straight-up #fakenews -- all the quotes attributed to her are completely made up.

She's fired off cease and desist letters to a ton of companies and individuals warning them to take down the stories, or she'll sue. The problem is it's hard to track down exactly who's behind the campaign. Different versions keep popping up, but all have the same message: Christina's behind these skin products, buy here.

MTV issued a statement about Clay, saying, "We are saddened by the news of Clay Adler's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time."

Reality TV star Clay Adler is dead after intentionally shooting himself during a trip to the desert with friends ... TMZ has learned.

Clay appeared on 2 seasons of the MTV reality show, "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County." Law enforcement sources tell us Clay and his pals went shooting in the desert on March 25. In the middle of firing, we're told he turned the gun and shot himself in the head.

He died in the hospital on March 26 of the gunshot wound.

Our sources say there were no drugs or alcohol in his system, but Clay had struggled with mental illness in the past.

Clay also did some acting, and became pals with Jennifer Lawrence when they were both starting out in Hollywood.

He was an avid surfer, and friends and family honored him with a paddle out in Newport Beach last weekend. Clay was 27.

RIP.

"Little Women: LA" star Briana Renee is only 3'8" but isn't letting her height stop her from pursuing a career in modeling.

Briana's aiming to be the first little person to become a big-time model, and got in front of a camera to prove her skills. She chose to do mostly lingerie shots because her ultimate goal is to be a Maxim cover girl.