Aaron Phypers Arrested in LA Amid Denise Richards Abuse Claims

Digital Phablet – Aaron Phypers has been taken into custody.

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On Friday, October 17th, just two days after the State of California issued a legal warrant for Phypers, 53, he was taken from a court session in Los Angeles and placed in jail. He was detained during a break from a meeting related to his ex-wife Denise Richards’ restraining order against him.

“I have not yet reviewed the criminal complaint; however, based on the limited information I have, it seems to involve the same allegations we are already contesting, which we believe are false in the domestic violence case,” explains Phypers’ attorney to PEOPLE. “We anticipate these will also be proven false, and he will be exonerated.”  

(L-R) Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards (Photo by Leon Bennett / Getty Images via AFP)

Richards, 54, was granted a temporary protection order that has been extended through November 7. She plans to take today to rest and recover.

Documentation obtained by PEOPLE indicates that Phypers faced criminal charges on Thursday, October 16, at the Van Nuys Courthouse. The official complaint spans eight pages.

The charges include two counts of causing harm to a spouse, partner, fiancé, or parent of a child, as well as two counts of intimidating or coercing a witness. Three of the incidents allegedly occurred on January 17, 2022, and the fourth on May 3, 2022.

“When a case is officially filed, the evidence has not yet been fully examined and considered,” he states. “Many people are charged with crimes and later proven innocent. Just because it has been filed does not mean a conviction is certain. I trust Aaron, but I am skeptical of Denise and her witnesses. In this divorce and domestic violence case, we are confident that her honesty will be questioned.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, located near Malibu, booked Phypers shortly after 5 p.m. on October 17. He is currently held on $200,000 bail.

Earlier this month, Richards testified in court that her ex-husband had physically abused her, causing at least three concussions during their relationship. She claimed that she discovered these incidents when Phypers reportedly used equipment at his wellness center on her multiple times after she reported headaches, general discomfort, and feeling unwell.

(L-R) Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards (Photo by Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images via AFP)

Richards described two separate incidents resulting in concussions. The first occurred on January 17, 2022, and the second between March and May 2022. She also alleged he caused a black eye after forcefully pushing her against a concrete wall and hitting her head in the carport of his wellness center at the time.

She further stated that the third concussion also reportedly involved Phypers’ equipment and happened following a dispute at a Chicago hotel in April 2025. She claimed he “grabbed my head” and “squeezed my head so tightly that it felt like my skull was being crushed,” describing it as an almost deadly attack.

The former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star also recounted how her ex-boyfriend reportedly threatened to throw her through hotel windows and off balconies, almost killing her multiple times, which left her in tears during court proceedings.

In court on October 8, Phypers denied all of Richards’ allegations of abuse. After more than six years of marriage, he filed for divorce in July.

“I have never physically harmed Denise Richards,” he declared. “I never claimed I would hurt her or anyone else.” He refuted Richards’ witnesses, calling them “fabricated.” He added, “Many people enjoy being close to celebrities and will assist them.” He firmly denied that he inflicted multiple concussions or used tools from his wellness center to examine her for injuries, as claimed.