Days after his arrest in a Los Angeles courtroom, Aaron Phypers, Denise Richards’ estranged husband, has been hit with four felony charges. According to documents acquired, he faces two counts for injuring a spouse and two counts for dissuading a witness through force or threats. He managed to post $200,000 bail on Friday.
In court, as Phypers was handcuffed, he was seen in a heated exchange with sheriff’s officers while being taken down the escalator.
Richards had previously testified that Phypers had attempted to tarnish her reputation, including leaking nude photos of her. She expressed how challenging this was, particularly for their two daughters. One of the girls apparently told the judge that the situation made it hard for them to face certain social situations, including going to church.
Earlier in July, Richards filed a complaint alleging that Phypers took her computer and shared personal information, including sensitive photos, with various media outlets. A judge mandated Phypers return the stolen device within 48 hours.
As of now, a judge has barred him from disclosing any personal or confidential information culled from her phone or computer.
Richards claimed that Phypers had stolen her laptop and sent private messages without her consent. She also alleged that he threatened her well-being should she reach out to the police. In a statement, Phypers refuted these accusations, arguing that they were attempts to sabotage his reputation.
Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7, seeking spousal support on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. Shortly thereafter, Richards’ request for a temporary restraining order was approved.
In her statements, Richards didn’t hold back as she detailed disturbing allegations of physical abuse throughout their relationship. She described incidents where he violently assaulted her, leaving her fearful for her life. Richards recounted a particularly striking episode at a hotel where Phypers became aggressive shortly after her multiple cosmetic surgeries, allegedly even injuring another individual during the altercation.
Richards became emotional during her court testimony, revealing how pervasive the abuse was in their marriage and how it escalated over time. She particularly emphasized feeling incredibly vulnerable after her surgery, which coincided with some of the worst experiences she faced in the relationship.
