![]() In twisted fashion they inflicted injuries and shame on our client that have derailed his promising career and that will take him a lifetime to recover from." "Our client, Ricky Garcia, was a preteen and teen music and acting star in the making," they wrote in the statement, provided by Popok. "Tragically, and as alleged by him under oath in the complaint, high-powered male entertainment industry executives, led by his former manager Joby Harte, who were responsible for nurturing his career, instead sexually preyed on his economic and emotional vulnerability, and sexually assaulted and raped him. Garcia's attorneys Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok condemned Harte in a joint statement to USA TODAY. It's just a matter of talking about this to people and letting your close ones know that it's not okay." "This can can happen to anyone that you know. "YOU are not alone," he wrote on Instagram. Garcia encouraged people with sexual assault experiences to come forward with their stories. ![]() By the time Garcia was 16, his lawsuit claims, Harte sexually assaulted him "on an almost weekly basis." The suit says Harte initially began having conversations with Garcia about sexuality and later intoxicated Garcia before stripping him naked and sexually assaulting him. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Harte for comment. The lawsuit names Harte, four entertainment companies and four other individuals. ![]() ![]() In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles and obtained by USA TODAY, Garcia's attorneys allege years of sexual abuse by Harte, beginning when Garcia was 12. Ricky Garcia, of Disney's "Best Friends Whenever," has filed a complaint against talent manager Joby Harte of Hot Rock Media, alleging Harte raped him throughout his adolescence. A former Disney Channel star is taking action after he says he suffered years of abuse. ![]()
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