“Rick and Morty” co-creator and lead voice actor Justin Roiland is reportedly facing charges of felony domestic violence in Orange County, California according to NBC News (via Rolling Stone).
This is reportedly in connection with a 2020 incident and criminal complaint filed in May 2020. Roiland pleaded not guilty to the two charges and the criminal complaint, arrest affidavit, and subsequent legal hearings were sealed.
He appeared in court Thursday for a pre-trial hearing which is why the news went public today. NBC News says they have obtained the criminal complaint in the case and state the incident occurred in January 2020 against an anonymous Jane Doe who was dating Roiland at the time.
Roiland’s attorneys reportedly told the court that he was offered a plea deal. The news comes just days after the new animated series “Koala Man,” which he executive produces, debuted on Hulu. Roiland also co-created and performs in Hulu’s “Solar Opposites”.
Update: Roiland’s attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, has issued a statement to Variety saying: “It is hard to overstate how inaccurate the recent media coverage of this situation has been. To be clear, not only is Justin innocent but we also have every expectation that this matter is on course to be dismissed once the District Attorney’s office has completed its methodical review of the evidence. We look forward to clearing Justin’s name and helping him move forward as swiftly as possible.”
