Who Is Matt Prokop? Former Actor Arrested On Charges Of Aggravated Assault, Illegal Images Of Minor

Matthew Ray Prokop was recently arrested on some serious charges, including multiple counts of child p**nography. However, it seems like it's not the first time that the former child actor has landed in some legal trouble. According to reports, Prokop was in the headlines almost a decade ago when his then-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him.

A year later, Matthew Prokop completely disappeared from the industry. Now, with more serious accusations filed against him, the actor is making headlines once again. So, as the world remains in shock about the filings, let's take a look at everything there is to know about the former actor.

Who is Matthew Prokop?

Matthew Prokop hails from Victoria, Texas. He was born on July 29, 1990 and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 16 to pursue his passion for acting. The former actor landed his first gig in 2007 on the much-loved Disney show, Hannah Montana, followed by a walk-on role in The Office. In 2011, Prokop got Management 360 and APA to represent him. He once again returned to Disney as 'Josh Rosen' with Geek Charming, based on author, Robin Palmer's novel. He is known for his role in the 2008 musical film, High School Musical 3: Senior Year as 'Jimmie (The Rocket Man) Zara'. The actor's career had only started to bloom when he disappeared after his 2015 film, See You in Valhalla. 

Why did Matthew Prokop leave the entertainment industry?

Matthew Prokop was rising in the film industry when his role in Modern Family also brought someone special into his personal life. The young actor started dating the on-screen daughter of 'Claire' and 'Phil', 'Haley Gewndolyn Marshall', aka Sarah Hayland. The then-couple also starred in See You in Valhalla together. However, in August 2014, they broke up with Sarah accusing Matthew of physically and verbally abusing her throughout their four-year relationship.

In the same month, she also filed for a temporary order of protection against Matthew. Almost two months later, in October 2014, Sarah Hayland was granted a permanent restraining order against the young actor. The order forbade Matthew Prokop from attending the premiere of his film, See You in Valhalla, and he was never seen in any film again.

What happened between Matthew Prokop and Sarah Hyland?

Matthew Prokop and Sarah Hayland were both in their early 20s when they met during the shoot of Greek Charming. They later starred together in Modern Family and See You in Valhalla. However, while everything seemed good on the outside, things got extremely difficult for the actress behind the scenes. In August 2014, the actress accused Prokop of verbal and physical abuse during their four-year relationship. Their relationship got extremely bad, so much so that Hyland's co-star had to help her find her voice and get out of the relationship.

According to the court filing obtained by PEOPLE, Sarah Hyland claimed that in May 2014, Matthew Prokop allegedly slammed her into a vehicle and choked her during an argument. In August 2014, her Modern Family co-star and on-screen mom, Julie Bowen, intervened and helped Hyland end her relationship. However, that was not all. In the months following their break-up, the court filing alleges that Prokop threatened to kill her dog and burn down her house.

Scared for her life and safety, Sarah Hyland secured a restraining order against him. In the years since, she has rarely spoken about the previous relationship. However, in a conversation with Variety in October 2024, Hyland said she doesn't know whether that part of her has healed. She shared that what she experienced has scared her soul for life. She was quoted as saying:

"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."

Why was Matthew Prokop arrested?

Matthew Prokop was first arrested in May 2024 for alleged aggravated assault against his then-girlfriend, following a public incident in his hometown. He was later released on bond. The actor has now again been arrested and taken into custody on December 24, 2025, in Victoria County, Texas. An employee at the Victoria County Jail confirmed the news with PEOPLE, after TMZ first reported the arrest. 

Matthew Prokop faces four misdemeanour charges, including one count of violating a bond or protective order, one count of evading arrest or detention, and two counts of resisting arrest, search, or transportation. The former Disney star also faces one charge of second-degree felony possession of illegal images involving minors. He is currently housed in the Victoria County Sheriff's Office Jail. It remains unclear when he will appear in court. 

According to the Victoria County Jail employee, the High School Musical 3 actor has been charged with aggravated assault for attacking a family member with a weapon. However, whether he broke the bond against Sarah Hyland or his later girlfriend still remains unclear. As everyone waits for further information about the arrest and when the former child actor will appear in court, the news has shocked everyone. 

What are your thoughts on the charges against Matthew Prokop? Let us know.

Next Read: Why Did Nina Dobrev And Glen Powell Break Up? Ex-Lovers Vacation Together After Shaun White Split

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)