This is absolutely devastating news. Matt Prokop, the 35-year-old actor who appeared in Disney’s High School Musical franchise, was arrested on Christmas Eve in Victoria County, Texas on charges that include felony possession of child pornography. And if that name sounds familiar, yes, this is the same guy who dated Modern Family star Sarah Hyland and was accused of physically abusing her back in 2014.
TMZ broke the story first, and an employee at the Victoria County Jail confirmed to PEOPLE that Prokop was taken into custody on December 24. The charges are absolutely serious, and honestly, given his history with Hyland and the abuse allegations she made against him over a decade ago, this news hits differently. Nobody wants to see these kinds of charges against anyone, but especially not someone who built their career on Disney Channel programming that kids watched.
Let’s be real here: when you work for Disney, you’re supposed to represent family values and wholesome entertainment. Parents trust that brand. Kids look up to those performers. And now we’re looking at charges involving the exploitation of children? It’s beyond disturbing, and it’s a complete betrayal of everything that Disney brand is supposed to stand for.
What He’s Actually Been Charged With
Okay, so here’s the breakdown of what Prokop is facing, and it’s a LOT. According to jail records, he’s got four misdemeanor charges and one felony charge. The misdemeanors include:
- One count of violation of bond related to a protective order (which immediately raises questions about what protective order he violated)
- One count of evading arrest or detention (so he apparently tried to run?)
- Two counts of resisting arrest, search or transportation (meaning he didn’t go quietly)
But here’s the big one: Prokop is facing one count of second-degree felony possession of child pornography. That’s not a minor charge. In Texas, a second-degree felony can carry 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Plus, if convicted, you’re looking at mandatory sex offender registration.
He’s currently sitting in the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office Jail, and we don’t know yet when he’ll actually appear in court. The fact that he was arrested on Christmas Eve probably means there were holiday delays in getting him before a judge, but those court appearances are coming.
The Sarah Hyland Connection Nobody Can Ignore
If you followed celebrity news back in 2014, you probably remember when Sarah Hyland got a restraining order against Prokop. The two dated for FIVE YEARS, and according to court documents that PEOPLE obtained back then, Hyland accused him of verbal and physical abuse throughout their entire relationship.
The situation apparently got really bad in May 2014 when Prokop allegedly slammed Hyland into a vehicle and choked her during an argument. Can you even imagine? This was during the height of Modern Family’s success when Hyland was playing Haley Dunphy and becoming a household name.
Things came to a head in August 2014 when Julie Bowen (who played Hyland’s mom on the show) actually stepped in to help Sarah leave the relationship. And according to Hyland’s restraining order filing, Prokop allegedly responded by threatening to KILL HER DOG and BURN DOWN HER HOUSE. Like, what?!
Hyland got that restraining order in September 2014, and she’s rarely talked about the relationship since then. But in an October 2024 interview with Variety, she opened up just a little bit about what surviving that kind of abuse does to a person.
“I don’t know if that part of any woman will ever be fully healed from that,” she told the magazine. “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.”
Honestly, that quote hits even harder now knowing what Prokop has been arrested for. Hyland has moved on with her life (she married Wells Adams in 2022 and seems genuinely happy), but this has got to be triggering for her to see her abusive ex back in the headlines for something this horrific.
The Disney Problem
Here’s what makes this story even more troubling: Prokop was part of the High School Musical franchise, which was HUGE for Disney Channel. We’re talking about a cultural phenomenon that launched careers for Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and so many others. Kids everywhere were obsessed with these movies and the stars who appeared in them.
Disney has always been super protective of its brand image. They’re the company that literally invented the concept of wholesome family entertainment. When you’re a Disney star, you’re supposed to be a role model. Parents are supposed to feel comfortable letting their kids watch you and look up to you.
So when a former Disney performer gets arrested on charges involving child exploitation? That’s not just any scandal. That’s a complete violation of everything the Disney brand represents. It doesn’t matter that Prokop hasn’t worked with Disney in years. That association never really goes away.
What Happens Next?
Prokop’s case is going to work its way through the Texas criminal justice system, and given the nature of the charges (especially that felony count), prosecutors are probably going to come at this hard. The additional misdemeanor charges about resisting arrest and violating a protective order aren’t going to help his situation at all.
We’ll probably see court appearances in the coming weeks as this case moves forward. Depending on how strong the prosecution’s evidence is, this could go to trial or there could be plea negotiations. Either way, if he’s convicted on that felony charge, he’s looking at serious prison time.
For Sarah Hyland, who’s worked so hard to move past that chapter of her life, this has got to be incredibly difficult. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged back into headlines about her abusive ex, but unfortunately that’s what’s happening right now.
Resources If You Need Help
Look, this story brings up some really heavy topics. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. They’re available 24/7, all calls are confidential, and they have services in over 170 languages.
If you suspect child abuse or exploitation, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or go to www.childhelp.org. Same deal: 24/7 availability, confidential, more than 170 languages.
These charges are absolutely horrifying, and honestly, there’s not much else to say except that we hope justice is served and that anyone who’s been hurt gets the support they need. If this story brought up difficult memories for you or if you’ve experienced abuse yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out to those resources. You deserve help and support.
Drop your thoughts in the comments if you want, but seriously, take care of yourself first. This is heavy stuff.
Pretty boys that think their poo doesn’t stink think that they can get away with anything because of said looks. Sarah made the mistake of falling for him because of his looks.
And you know this because she told you?
It was mentioned several times that she would be bothered by her relationship with him being put back into the limelight. It doesn’t need to be. She has moved on. This about him and his recent choices. Leave her out of it.