Former Disney Channel actor Matt Prokop is currently being held without bail in a Texas jail following his arrest on Christmas Eve, with serious new charges including possession of child pornography being added to his case.
Arrest Details and Escalating Charges
The 35-year-old actor was initially booked into Victoria County Jail on 24 December for violating his bond conditions, as well as evading and resisting arrest. According to reports from TMZ and People, the situation escalated significantly when, on 31 December, a judge signed a warrant leading to an additional and grave charge for 'possession or promotion of child pornography'.
Prokop is now being detained without the possibility of bail, as confirmed by local authorities. Daily Mail has contacted both his representative and the Victoria County Jail for comment on the developing situation.
A History of Alleged Violence and Past Restraining Order
This arrest is not Prokop's first encounter with the law in his home state of Texas. In May 2024, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The Victoria Police Department reported that the incident occurred during a weekend outing, after the woman told someone she had been assaulted.
Officers later found the pair following a disturbance call. The investigation concluded that Prokop had allegedly pushed his girlfriend and slammed her head into an object, causing injuries serious enough to warrant his arrest. Reports indicate he tried to pull away from officers and run during the apprehension.
This pattern of alleged behaviour echoes claims made years earlier by his ex-girlfriend and former Disney co-star, Sarah Hyland. The actress, now 35, filed for a restraining order against Prokop in August 2014 after their six-year relationship ended.
Sarah Hyland's Allegations and Career Background
In her legal filing, Hyland claimed Prokop was verbally and physically abusive for four years of their relationship. She described a terrifying incident where he allegedly pinned her against a car and choked her. 'His grip was so tight that I could not breathe or speak,' Hyland stated in court documents. 'I was scared and in fear for my life.'
She credited her Modern Family on-screen mother, Julie Bowen, with helping her end the relationship. After Prokop entered rehab in August 2014, Hyland said someone from the institution warned her about his mental state upon release and recommended she obtain a restraining order. A temporary order was granted that September and made permanent a month later, requiring Prokop to stay at least 300 feet away from Hyland and her dog.
The pair met at an audition for High School Musical 3: Senior Year, where Prokop played Jimmie. They later appeared together in a 2012 episode of Modern Family and the 2011 Disney film Geek Charming. Prokop was also credited as a producer on Hyland's 2015 movie See You in Valhalla.
