Rick and Morty co-creator and star Justin Roiland charged with felony domestic violence in 2020 incident with an unnamed girlfriend
- Justin Roiland, 42, was charged with two counts of felony domestic violence
- The charges stem from an incident with an unnamed girlfriend in January 2020
- He previously pleaded not guilty, and has been free on bail as the case proceeds
- The charges were not publicly reported until he appeared at a hearing Thursday
Justin Roiland, 42, was charged with felony domestic violence in 2020, a case that had not been previously reported
Justin Roiland, who co-created and stars in the hit animated series Rick and Morty, has been charged with felony domestic violence in connection with an incident that occurred in 2020.
Roiland, 42, appeared in an Orange County, California court on Thursday in connection with the case, after previously pleading not guilty to felony counts of domestic battery with corporal injury and false imprisonment.
The criminal charges, first filed in May 2020, had not been previously reported.
NBC News first reported on case, citing a copy of the criminal complaint, and DailyMail.com confirmed the charges in a review of court records.
According to the complaint, the charges stem from an incident around January 19, 2020, when a woman who was dating Roiland, identified only as Jane Doe, made the allegations against him.
Many of the documents in the case remain sealed, including the police affidavit in support of Roiland’s arrest, as well as police bodycam footage and investigation reports.
Rick and Morty co-creator Roiland appeared in an Orange County, California court on Thursday in connection with the case. He is seen above last July
Court document show Roiland pleaded not guilty to one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment
Roiland was apparently arrested in August 2020 and freed on a $50,000 bond.
He was charged with one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges at an October 2020 arraignment, and the case has proceeded through the court system without attracting public attention.
Under a protective order filed in October 2020, Roiland was ordered not to harass, threaten or surveil the person named in the protective order, whose name does not appear in public court documents.
Roiland was also prohibited from coming within 100 feet of the person named in the order, and required to surrender any guns he may have owned or possessed. The protective order extends until October 2023.
At Thursday’s court hearing, Roiland’s attorney revealed that a plea deal has been offered to his client, but did not offer further details, according to NBC News.
Roiland voices both of the title characters of Rick and Morty, mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Mortimer Chauncey ‘Morty’ Smith, Sr. (together above)
Rick and Morty co-creators Justin Roiland (left) and Dan Harmon are seen in 2013
Roiland is best known for his work on the Adult Swim cartoon series Rick and Morty, which he co-created with Dan Harmon.
On the show, Roiland voices both of the title characters, mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Mortimer Chauncey ‘Morty’ Smith, Sr.
Roiland, who grew up in California’s Central Valley, first met Harmon through the Los Angeles media collective Channel101.
Rick and Morty originated out of a short parody film of Back to the Future that Roiland and Harmon created for Channel101.
The series debuted on Adult Swim in 2013, quickly garnering a devoted following and expanded into a franchise worth billions.
Rick and Morty debuted on Adult Swim in 2013, quickly garnering a devoted following and expanded into a franchise worth billions
Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon, actor Sarah Chalke, who voices Beth Smith, and series co-creator Justin Roiland (right) are seen at a press event for the show in 2017
The sixth season of Rick and Morty recently concluded, and a seventh season was previously confirmed as part of a long-term deal with Cartoon Network that ordered 70 new episodes.
Little is known of Roiland’s personal life, and he has not publicly confirmed any long-term romantic relationships since rising to stardom.
A representative for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns Adult Swim and sister channel Cartoon Network, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Thursday afternoon.
An attorney listed for Roiland in court records also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Roiland is next due to appear in court on April 27. A potential trial date has not yet been set in the case.