Lara Sophia 
The ex-husband of Real Housewives of Salt Lake star Monica Garcia was arrested for domestic violence during their marriage. Get all the details.
More details about Monica Garcia‘s horrific marriage to ex-husband Mike Fowler are coming to light just a week after the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star revealed that her marriage ended due to domestic violence.
The U.S. Sun report s that Monica Garcia’s ex-husband was arrested in 2021 for “slapping her across the face.”
According to a police report, Mike Fowler, 45, was arrested on March 5, 2021 for “domestic violence assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child and interruption of a communication device” after Monica called police from her Apple watch, claiming that “her husband had hit her and now she was hiding in a bedroom.”
The police reports that a woman could be heard “yelling for him to get away from her.”
When police arrived at the residence, Monica claimed she was “afraid of Michael and what he would do if she disobeyed him.”
Mike allegedly hit Monica after they got into an argument over “some of the people that she had been associating with.”
The report alleged that “The argument got worse” when Monica and Mike returned home “and that’s when he slapped her across the face.”
The altercation reportedly occurred in front of Monica’s teenage daughter, Bri, from a previous relationship. Mike and Monica share three daughters together.
Per the report, Mike spent several days in county jail before pleading guilty to assault. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay $1070 in fines.
After part one of the RHOSLC season 4 reunion, Monica took to Instagram to shed more light on her divorce.
On Instagram, Monica explained that domestic violence was the reason for her divorce, not her 18-month-long affair with her brother-in-law, Jared Taylor, a 42-year-old fire chief from Ogden, Utah, which took place from 2010 to 2011.
“I haven’t wanted to post about this because I already know what the comment section is going to say and how nasty people can be and have been on my page. However, if this helps one person out there to feel seen and give them any kind of comfort, hope, or support then it is worth it to me. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. I am sending love to all of those affected by domestic violence #rhoslc,” Monica captioned her Instagram post.
The RHOSLC rookie explained that her ex “was arrested a couple of times for domestic violence on me in front of our girls and violations of protective orders.”
She added that she hoped to “bring awareness” to these issues on RHOSLC.
“I had hoped to speak about it on the show to help better explain why things are the way they are in my life currently,” Monica explained. “To bring awareness to women dealing with this issue and to help them see that they are not alone.”
However, Monica said she never got the chance to have that discussion on camera.
Monica and Mike tied the knot in 2009. Four years later, Monica filed for divorce; however, she and Mike eventually reconciled. In June of 2023, Monica filed for divorce for the second time.
The RHOLSC star finalized her divorce from Mike on October 24.
In the divorce, Monica Garcia was awarded sole legal and physical custody of daughters Bri, 18, Jaidyn, 13, West, 7, and Kendall, 6. Mike was also ordered to pay the RHOSLC star $2,636 a month in child support and $4,000 a month in alimony.
Part 3 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion airs on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
