Highschool Musical 3 star Matt Prokop is facing child pornography charges after being arrested for allegedly violating conditions of his bond from a 2024 arrest.
Prokop, 35, was taken into custody by the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office in Texas on December 24, according to TMZ. He’s been charged with one count of a violation of bond, two counts of resisting arrest, search or transportation, one count of evading arrest or detention and a second-degree felony count of possession of child pornography.
He is currently in the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office Jail awaiting his next court date.
Prior to his arrest, Prokop was known for playing East High freshman Jimmie “The Rocketman” Zara in Disney’s High School Musical 3. He also had a number of roles in other family movies and shows, including Geek Charming, Modern Family and Furry Vengeance. However, he has not had an acting role since 2013, according to his IMDb.
Sarah Hyland Says an Abusive Relationship Can Scar ‘Soul a Little’
The charges come one year after the actor was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend. As Us Weekly previously reported, Prokop’s former partner — who was not named at the time — claimed to police that he’d pushed her and slammed her head into another object during a domestic disturbance. He was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and resisting arrest.
Another ex-girlfriend, Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, also accused Prokop of abusive behavior during their four- to five-year relationship. Court documents obtained by People revealed she’d told authorities that he choked her in an argument, shoved her into a vehicle, called her names and thrown things at her. He also allegedly threatened to kill her dog and burn down her home.
Following their 2014 breakup, the Vampire Academy actress, 35, alleged that he “relentlessly bombarded [her] with vile, threatening and emotionally disturbing texts and voicemails including his own suicide threats.”
In September 2014, she was granted a temporary restraining order against Prokop.
Modern Family’s Julie Bowen Helped Sarah Hyland Leave Abusive Relationship
While Hyland did not name Prokop specifically, 10 years later she spoke out about her experiences with abuse in a 2024 interview with Variety.
“For thousands of years now, we didn’t talk about it,” she said at the time. “The community hasn’t shared enough, I believe. And I feel that if we talk about it more, more women — and men and just human beings in general in abusive relationships — will feel more comfortable to be able to talk about it with their loved ones instead of letting their abuser isolate them from everyone, which is the first thing that they do, so that you don’t have that community.”
She continued, “I don’t know if that part [of] any woman will ever be fully healed from that. It’s something that kind of scars her soul a little bit. It’s more so putting love towards that scar instead of hating it and ignoring it.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
