In San Diego, everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. But this applies only to the court of law. The court of public opinion is a different matter.
Just getting arrested, especially on a sensitive charge like domestic violence, can profoundly impact your life before you have had your day in court. Family and friends take sides, often assuming things about your case. A restraining order could force you out of your home and stop you from seeing your children. Once your employer finds out about the charge, they might punish or fire you.
TV producer/actor fired due to 2020 charges
All of this can happen to anyone arrested on suspicion of domestic assault, but this experience is especially likely in a high-profile incident that makes the news. A celebrity whose personal life can make front-page headlines is probably the most vulnerable to this scenario. The latest example of this is Justin Roiland, who produces and does voice acting for animated shows like Rick and Morty. It was recently revealed that Roiland was arrested in 2020 on felony domestic violence charges. He has pleaded not guilty and the case is still pending.
Soon after the arrest came to light, Adult Swim, the network that airs Rick and Morty, announced that Roiland had been fired. Roiland co-created the series and voiced both lead characters. He also will no longer produce or act in Adult Swim’s Koala Man. Roiland also resigned from a video game company he co-founded.
It should be pointed out that Roiland has not been convicted of a crime so far. But whether he ultimately is found guilty or not, the impact on his career and reputation has already happened. For the average person facing domestic violence accusations, the best way thing you can do to protect yourself from unfair outcomes is to retain an experienced defense attorney.
