Stan Lee’s former business manager, Keya Morgan, was arrested under suspicion of elder abuse by a joint task force including members of the LAPD and the Phoenix Police. The allegations against Morgan state that he took control of Lee’s business affairs in February of 2018 and proceeded to isolate the Marvel legend from his family and friends. Morgan is also accused of misappropriating or embezzling upwards of $5 million worth of assets from Lee.
The charges Morgan is facing include one felony count of false imprisonment, three felony counts of grand theft from an elder adult, and a misdemeanor count of elder abuse. The false imprisonment charge stems from the fact that Morgan allegedly moved Lee in secret from Lee’s home in the Hollywood Hills to a secured Beverly Hills condominium late at night on June 8, 2018. Authorities believe that the move was an effort to isolate Lee and gain more control over him. Apparently, Morgan had been trying to convince Lee that he was in danger and needed to be moved someplace else.
After his arrest, Morgan was being held by the LAPD in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Elder Abuse is covered under California Penal Code 368 PC and, like many other California crimes, is a “wobbler” that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances of the case and the defendant’s prior criminal history. When charged as a misdemeanor, the possible penalties for elder abuse include informal probation, a maximum sentence of 1 year in county jail, a maximum fine of $6,000 (or $10,000 for a subsequent offence), restitution to the victim, and counseling. Felony charges include the penalties of formal probation, two to four years in California state prison with an additional and consecutive three to seven years if the victim suffers great bodily injury or death as a result of the abuse, up to $10,000 in fines, and counseling.
