Cape Town - Keya Morgan, a memorabilia dealer and former business manager of Stan Lee, has been charged with elder abuse against the Marvel Comics legend.
Los Angeles County prosecutors filed charges against the former business manager, including allegations of theft, embezzlement and forgery against an elder, NBC News reports.
Lee, who co-created iconic characters Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, died in November last year aged 95.
A year after Lee started working with Morgan in 2017, his family had already filed a restraining order against Morgan amid allegations of elder abuse. Morgan (43) was accused of embezzling artwork, cash and other assets worth more than $5 million (then about R72,5 million).
Jonathan Freud, Lee’s attorney, requested Keya be barred from contacting Lee, his daughter JC Lee and his brother Larry Lieber. Morgan was banned from coming within 100 yards (90m) of Lee, The Metro adds.
At the time, Morgan vehemently denied the allegations.
“I dare them to show one single penny that I’ve ever embezzled out of Stan’s bank accounts or anything,” he told Variety.
“Stan has never called the police on me. Stan has never asked me not to call him. Stan has never asked me to leave his house. I’d like to know a single thing I’ve done that has been wrong, other than showing love, kindness and compassion.”
But a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed an arrest warrant had been issued and Morgan had been charged on Friday.
He’s accused of seizing control of Lee’s Hollywood Hills home, as well as using security guards to keep relatives and associates away from the house, writes The Metro.
Court documents also claim he moved Lee to an “unfamiliar condominium”. This relates to an incident last year in which Morgan allegedly moved Lee from his home at midnight on 8 June, to an apartment in an attempt to isolate him from his family and other caregivers.
Morgan’s attorney, Alex Kessel, maintains his client’s innocence.
“He’s never abused or taken advantage of Mr Lee in any way,” Kessel says.
“We expect him to be completely exonerated of all charges.”
SOURCES: THE METRO, VARIETY, NBC NEWS, USA TODAY
(Pictures: Getty/Gallo Images)