‘Matlock’ Addresses Why David Del Rio’s Character Is MIA Following Alleged Sexual Assault Incident

David Del Rio has been written off of ‘Matlock’ — for now, at least.

As the National Enquirer previously reported, the actor was fired in October following a week-long internal investigation into an alleged sexual assault that costar Leah Lewis claimed happened on September 26.

On the Thursday, February 26 episode, his character Billy’s on-screen absence from the Jacobsen Moore law offices was explained. In the scene, a nervous Sarah (Lewis) frets that Gwen (Sarah Wright Olsen) — the personnel director from a firm that is merging with theirs — may be looking to begin layoffs, just as Gwen walks in.

“I promise I am not here to fire anyone,” Gwen promises. “I just make recommendations based on observable redundancies.”

Lewis reports that Billy is out sick. “Yay! So no need for him to return. Job eliminated,” responds Gwen, before insisting she’s kidding.

Later, Gwen returns to suggest to Sarah that perhaps one person on the team might be interested in a “generous severance package,” but Sarah assures her they won’t be.

Del Rio, 38, hired high-powered Hollywood attorney Shawn Holley, who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan, in the wake of his firing, per TMZ.

As Enquirer previously reported, the actor has been shunned by his other costars. “It really angers him his costars don’t want to hear his side of things,” a source told the Enquirer. “They’ve already convicted him.”

Del Rio has not been charged with any crime.

The promo for next week’s episode introduces Henry Haber as an associate named Hunter who joins the team.