Former Season 3 'Survivor' contestant Silas Gaither arrested on rape charges

Silas Gaither, a former contestant on "Survivor: Africa," was arrested in Shelby County this week and charged with rape and aggravated assault.

The rape allegedly took place in May 2018.

Gaither was released Tuesday after posting a $50,000 bond, according to jail records. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 9.

Gaither, now 41, appeared in the third season of "Survivor," which was filmed when he was 23 and debuted on CBS in 2001. He was a leader of a young alliance that had seized control of his tribe. But in a twist, he was switched with players from the other team (the first time the CBS show had made such a move).

Gaither ended up getting voted out, the fifth player eliminated during his season, because he was outnumbered on the new tribe. He is regarded by fans as the first "victim" of the "Survivor" switch.

Gaither graduated from the University of Tennessee  in 2000 with a degree in finance. He was living in Los Angeles when he was cast on "Survivor" and for several years after the show he played mostly small parts in several TV shows and films. He ultimately moved back to his native Germantown, Tennessee.