Denise Richards' Estranged Husband Aaron Phypers Faces Years in Prison on Felony Charges

Aaron Phypers, the estranged husband of Denise Richards, could spend a number of years in prison after being indicted on four felony charges subsequent to his detention in court last week.The 53-year-old Phypers is facing two felony charges for spousal injury and two felony charges for intimidating a witness through force or threats, as confirmed by Us Weekly.Court documents acquired by Us reveal that the Deputy District Attorney formally pressed charges against Richards’ former partner on Friday, October 17, following his apprehension.The initial three charges pertain to a purported event on January 17, 2022. The fourth charge concerns a separate alleged occurrence involving the former couple, reportedly on May 3, 2022.Should he be found guilty, Phypers might be incarcerated for several years.A single felony conviction for spousal injury carries a sentence of 2-4 years. If Phypers is found guilty of both felony counts of spousal injury, his potential sentence could be twice as long.Phypers is slated for his arraignment hearing on December 19.Us has contacted the legal representatives for both Phypers and Richards for their statements.Denise Richards' Former Spouse Aaron Phypers Comments on His ApprehensionPhypers was apprehended on Friday amidst his continuing legal dispute with Richards.The star of Wild Things is petitioning the court to convert her interim restraining order against her former husband into a perpetual one.“He was taken into custody outside the courthouse and escorted down a nearby escalator. [He] did not return to [the] corridor,” an observer informed Us then. “Denise is present. She is composed and conversing with her legal counsel.” Phypers appeared “bewildered,” as did his lawyer, according to a second observer, who remarked that Richards’ former partner “did not appear to grasp that he was on the verge of being arrested.”Phypers was freed from custody several hours later, having paid his $200,000 bail.Richards’ interim restraining order was prolonged until November 7, at which point the former couple is set to appear for an additional hearing regarding the issue.After his release, Phypers’ legal counsel exclusively informed Us, “We can verify that Aaron Phypers was indeed arrested towards the conclusion of the family law court proceedings on October 17, 2025, and subsequently released on bond.”Their statement proceeded, “We have not reviewed the criminal indictment, but we presume it is predominantly rooted in some of the identical baseless allegations that Denise Richards has leveled against Mr. Phypers in the family law domestic violence case, which she asserts transpired almost four years prior. If this is the case, we anticipate that the proof will establish Mr. Phypers’ lack of culpability and result in his exoneration.”Richards tied the knot with the fitness coach in September 2018.Aaron Phypers Asserts Denise Richards Is Prone to Bruising During Court InterrogationPhypers initiated divorce proceedings in July, following six years of matrimony, citing “irreconcilable disparities.”In the same month, Richards disclosed accusations of domestic abuse. Within legal documents, the actress alleged that Phypers behaved violently throughout their partnership.“Aaron would often violently constrict my throat, forcefully compress my head with both hands, firmly grip my arms, savagely strike my face and head,” Richards claimed in the papers. “[He would] violently thrust my head against the bathroom towel rack, threaten my life, pin me down with his knee on my back until I had to beg him to release me to avoid being killed, and access my laptop and phone to download all my text communications.”Phypers refuted ever behaving violently towards Richards, stating to Us that he thinks she “fabricated” her allegations.Denise Richards' Former Partner Aaron Phypers Detained in Court on 'Spousal Abuse' Charges“I possess the genuine proof,” Phypers asserted to Us in a July declaration. “I wish to clarify recent whispers and conjectures that have emerged concerning my bond with my wife, Denise Richards. Let me state without reservation: I have never subjected Denise — or anyone — to physical or emotional harm.”
During his court testimony, Phypers once more rejected claims that he inflicted a black eye upon Richards during a supposed altercation at his now-defunct wellness facility in 2022.His relative, Dr. Kathleen McAllister, disputed Phypers’ assertion, giving testimony in court that she witnessed him reportedly striking Richards, which led to the black eye.Phypers assigned culpability to the former star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, alleging his spouse informed him she had stumbled onto a pole outside his health facility while consuming alcohol.Aaron Phypers States Under Oath He Did Not Cause Denise's Black Eye: ‘She Tumbled’Phypers consistently maintained in his testimony that he never engaged in violence with Richards throughout their association.Prior to their union, Richards was wed to Charlie Sheen between 2002 and 2006. They are parents to two daughters — Sami, 21, and Lola, 20. Richards also mothers her adopted daughter, Eloise, 14.For confidential assistance if you or an acquaintance are experiencing domestic abuse, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.