Co-creator of Rick and Morty Justin Roiland (Solar Opposites) has been charged with felony domestic battery charges, according to Variety. Earlier January 12, Roiland was charged in Orange County, California for a case dating back to May 2020. He was charged with one felony count of domestic battery injury, and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, or deceit. In 2020 he pleaded not guilty to these charges until appearing before the court again this year for a pre-trial hearing on January 12th and another on April 27th.
Roiland’s attorney, T. Edwards Welbourn gave a statement about the situation to Variety, “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.”
According to Variety, the alleged incident happened on January 19, 2020 with an individual that Roiland was dating at the time. NBC originally covered the news in 2020. Roiland is currently free on a $50,000 bond that was originally posted in August of that year and arraigned in October as he pled innocent of both felony charges.
Roiland is known for not only his work on Rick and Morty as both co-creator, and the voice actor for the main characters Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith, but for many other series as well including Polar Opposites, Koala Man, Invincible, and many more. Season 6 of Rick and Morty ended on December 2022 as many fans not only await news on season seven but also on information on Roiland’s situation.
Currently, a trial date has not been set.