Rick and Morty Co-Creator Justin Roiland Charged for Domestic Violence

Rick and Morty co-creator and High on Life creator Justin Roiland has been charged in a California court with domestic battery and false imprisonment, according to a report by NBC News.

NBC, which obtained the criminal complaint in question, says that Roiland was charged in May of 2020 in connection with an incident from January of that year.

Roiland is 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 — both against an anonymous Jane Doe who he was dating at the time.

He has pleaded “not guilty” to both charges.

Thus far, over a dozen hearings have taken place connected to these charges, including a pre-trial hearing today, but a trial date has not yet been set. Roiland was reportedly charged in May of 2020 and arrested and released on a $50,000 bond the following August. In October, a protective order was filed stating that he was not permitted to harass, threaten, surveil, or go within 100 feet of the Jane Doe in question.

A number of other case details are reportedly being withheld under a protective order, though an attorney confirmed to NBC News that a plea offer is available. NBC reports that a hearing in the case is planned to reconvene on April 27, with Roiland ordered to attend.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Disclosure: The author of this piece’s partner previously worked at High on Life studio Squanch Games.

This article was amended after publication to correct a phrasing error regarding when Roiland was arrested.

Image Credit: Greg Doherty, Getty Images