Hollywood actress Denise Richards has obtained a significant legal victory against her estranged husband Aaron Phypers, with a Los Angeles judge granting a five-year restraining order following allegations of physical and emotional abuse throughout their seven-year marriage.
Court Imposes Strict Conditions
During Friday's court hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas issued comprehensive restrictions against Phypers. The 53-year-old must maintain distance from Richards, cease all threatening or harassing behaviour, and surrender any firearms to law enforcement authorities. In a particularly notable ruling, the judge explicitly prohibited Phypers from leaking or sharing nude photographs of the 54-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star.
The legal confrontation intensified last month when Phypers was arrested outside a Los Angeles courthouse during a previous restraining order hearing. He now faces two felony counts of injuring a spouse alongside additional serious charges.
Criminal Charges and Arrest Details
Court documents obtained by Daily Mail reveal that Phypers confronts not only the spousal injury charges but also two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. The alleged incidents occurred on specific dates, with court papers indicating the witness dissuasion charges and one spousal injury charge relating to January 17, 2022, while the second spousal injury charge stems from May 3, 2022.
Phypers was taken into custody by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies on October 17 while both parties were present for a court hearing. However, he secured his release the same night after meeting his $200,000 bail conditions at the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station.
Contested Allegations and Legal Defence
Michael Finley, Phypers's legal representative, has vigorously contested the allegations, describing the timing of the criminal charges as "highly unusual" given they concern events from nearly four years ago. "We feel that it is highly unusual that criminal charges would be brought now over allegations from nearly four years ago," Finley stated to Daily Mail.
The defence maintains that Richards's accusations are false, with Finley expressing confidence that evidence would ultimately exonerate his client. Phypers himself has consistently denied ever "physically or emotionally" abusing Richards in his public statements.
Adding complexity to the proceedings, Phypers's mother testified during the October 17 hearing, claiming she witnessed Richards throw a can opener at her son. She further asserted that Phypers never abused or threatened the actress during their marriage.
The former couple's separation continues to unfold through legal channels, with Phypers having initially filed for divorce in July citing "irreconcilable differences." Their official separation date is recorded as July 4, 2025, as their ongoing divorce battle shows no signs of resolution.
