Keya Morgan

Stan Lee‘s former business partner, Keya Morgan (né Keyarash Mazhari) was arrested Saturday after being charged with five counts of elder abuse involving the deceased comic book icon.  Now it has been revealed that Morgan could face up to 10 years in prison, and prosecutors have recommended his bail be set at $300,000.

 

RELATED:  Stan Lee’s Former Business Partner Keya Morgan Has Been Arrested On Elder Abuse Charges

 

Morgan has been charged with one count of felony “false imprisonment of an elder by use of fraud and deceit,” and three felony counts of “grand theft from an elder of more than $950.”  In fact, Morgan is accused of taking over $100,000 through “fraud and embezzlement.”  He is also charged with one misdemeanor count of elder abuse for “knowingly and willfully inflicting mental suffering” on Lee.

The “false imprisonment” charge stems from a situation last year, in which Morgan relocated Lee to a private condo without informing Lee’s family or medical caretakers.  Morgan was able to gain control of Lee’s business affairs last February, and shortly afterward, Lee released a video (filmed by Morgan) in which he denied that Morgan was abusing him, and called such accusations “slander.”  “My relationship with my friend Keya Morgan is great,” Lee continued, adding “I’m beginning to learn who my enemies are.”

In June, Lee posted another video on Twitter, with the accompanying caption reading:

“If you can’t get me, call Keya Morgan. The two of us work together and are conquering the world side by side.  My only partner and business manager is @KeyaMorgan not all the other people making false claims.”

The next day, Morgan was arrested for making a false 911 call claiming that Lee was being held at gunpoint by former employees who had truthfully just shown up to collect their last paychecks.  Later that month, following the incident of Morgan moving Lee, a restraining order was filed against Morgan, alleging that he was “taking advantage of Lee’s impaired hearing, vision, and judgment,” and had blocked family members, specifically Lee’s daughter JC, from contacting him.  (It should be noted that Stan Lee’s relationship with JC has been described as “contentious.”)

Lee had formerly been in the care of his wife Joan, who passed away in July 2017, prior to Morgan’s maneuvering.  Lee himself passed away on November 12, 2018, at the age of 95.

Morgan appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court on Sunday morning, where he waived the right to challenge his extradition from Arizona to Los Angeles.  He also referred to his current situation as a “big media blitz,” and added:

“I am completely not guilty.  The second they arrested me, the officer put it on TMZ.”

Some may say thank goodness Stan isn’t alive to see all this unfolding, but one also has to wonder how things might have worked out differently if he were still with us.

At any rate, check back for updates on this case as they arise.

 

Source: The Washington Post