This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, who also voices many of the characters on the show including its two protagonists, is facing charges for a felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit.
NBC News reports that Roiland was charged with felony domestic violence in Orange County, California, and that the incident allegedly took place in early 2020, from an anonymous woman that Roiland was dating at the time. The criminal complaint was filed in May of the same year by the Orange County District Attorney, with Roiland being charged that month. Roiland was then arrested and released on a $50,000 bond in August 2020 and arraigned in October 2020.
THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY
Related: We Need To Talk About Rick & Morty Keeping It In The Family
According to the report, Roiland pleaded not guilty to both charges back in October 2020. The case has had several court hearings since that date, although a final trial date has not yet been set. A pre-trial hearing took place today, which Roiland attended. The court will meet again for the case on April 27.
The documents also reveal that a protective order was filed in October 2020, which said that Roiland is not to harass, threaten, surveil, or go within 100 feet of the person named in the protective order, who is currently unknown. Roiland was also made to turn any firearms that he possessed. The order is active until October 2023.
According to Roiland's attorney, a plea offer has been made available to Roiland, although details on what that might include were not revealed. Currently, most of the details of the case, including body camera footage, police reports, medical reports, recordings of interviews, and more are all being kept from the public thanks to a protective order.