Richard Bartlett Schroder Jr. is a 49-year old American actor. He has been an actor since childhood, starting out as Ricky Schroder. His first big break was in 1979, at the age nine, in a movie with actor Jon Voigt called The Champ. By the 1980s he was acting on television, and starring in his own sitcom Silver Spoons. As an adult, he changed his stage name to Rick Schroder. From 1998 until 2001, he starred in the television drama NYPD Blue.
In 1992, at the age of 22, he married Andrea Bernard. He converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism) during his marriage. He and Andrea have four children together. In 2016, Andrea filed for divorce.
On April 2, 2019, Schroder was arrested in the Los Angeles area for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face. He was charged with felony domestic violence. The charges were later dropped by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
On April 30, 2019, Schroder was again arrested for felony domestic violence against his girlfriend.
California has been very pro-active in prosecuting alleged abusers of domestic violence since the 1990s and the notoriety of the Nicole Brown Simpson murder. (Her ex-husband, former NFL star O.J Simpson was found not guilty of her murder, but was civilly liable for her death.) The law seeks to prevent domestic violence in familial or intimate relationships.
The domestic violence prevention laws criminalize domestic violence and make it easier for victims to get restraining orders against alleged offenders.
The penalties for a domestic violence conviction can be severe as well, beginning with fines of $2,000 or more, up to a year in county jail, and up to four years in state prison. If previously convicted on domestic violence charges, penalties are substantially increased.
As of May, 2019, Schroder has only been charged with domestic violence abuse. He has not been convicted of any domestic violence crimes.
UPDATE: On May 24, 2019 TMZ posted that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against Schroder