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Sexual Assault Charges Dropped Against Voice Actor Illich Guardiola

Sexual assault charges were dropped against voice actor Illich Guardiola (Penguindrum, Hakuōki, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere) in Harris County, Texas last month. Guardiola's defense attorney said the decision was made because the 41-year-old drama teacher was legally married to his 16-year-old student.

Investigators told local television station KHOU that both the girl and her mother refused to cooperate with the investigation. Police said they received phone calls from other possible victims but the calls were anonymous and were not returned. Police are still asking for anyone with information about the couple or knowledge of Guardiola having improper relations with anyone else to call the Child Abuse Division at the Harris County District Attorney's office at 713-755-5800.

Police stopped Guardiola for a traffic violation on April 14 and noticed the 16-year-old with him in the car. The teenager told police he was giving her a ride home but later admitted to having a sexual relationship with Guardiola. Prior to police arresting Guardiola, but after the traffic stop, he, the girl, and her mother flew to Las Vegas where Guardiola married the 16-year-old.

The 41-year-old was a drama teacher at several Houston acting academies and theaters, including Houston Family Arts Center where the girl was a student. Bob Clark, executive director of the Houston Family Arts Center, stated that the center severed all connections with Guardiola after learning of the arrest.

Guardiola's last confirmed anime dub role was "The Anguished One" in Sentai Filmwork's Devil Survivor 2 release. Illich voiced the character but Sentai Filmworks removed his name from the cast list posted on its Tumblr.

Thanks to Derek Chavez for the news tip

Sources: KHOU, KENS5, The Huffington Post, The Daily Mail