Denise Richards’ estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, is facing serious new allegations involving both his ex-wife and his cousin.
According to Us Weekly, Phypers has been accused of preventing his cousin, Kathleen McAllister, from speaking out about his alleged abuse.
Us Weekly reports that prosecutors in Los Angeles filed a criminal complaint and arrest warrant on October 15, detailing four felony counts that led to Phypers’ arrest on October 17. The publication obtained the filing, which shows Phypers, 53, was charged with “two felony counts related to injuring a spouse and two felony counts related to dissuading a witness by force or threat.” One of those counts reportedly involves his cousin, who worked with him at his former wellness center in Malibu, California.
According to prosecutors, the alleged witness intimidation occurred on January 17, 2022, when Phypers “knowingly and maliciously” committed an act “accompanied by force and an express and implied threat of force and violence” against McAllister and Richards, 54.
In a restraining order petition filed in July, Richards described a disturbing scene that same day at Phypers’ wellness center. “Aaron brought several potted plants into the center and became paranoid that they contained listening devices,” the filing stated. She added that a nearby police officer “approached the door after hearing yelling” but left shortly after.
Once the officer left, Richards claimed, Phypers “resumed screaming, then used the heel of his palm to strike her in the eye while calling her a ‘f***ing bitch.’” Richards said her family member present witnessed the assault and “immediately retrieved frozen food to reduce the swelling.” She further alleged that Phypers told her to lie about the cause of her injury, insisting she say she “walked into a piece of equipment stored on the building’s balcony, which was untrue.”
Prosecutors say one of the felony spousal injury charges stems from that January 17, 2022, incident. Another relates to a separate event on May 3, 2022. In court, Richards testified that Phypers caused her to suffer “at least three concussions” due to alleged abuse, including a black eye after he “slammed” her against a concrete wall, causing her head to hit it between March and May 2022. Phypers, however, has adamantly denied the allegations on the stand.
Richards obtained a temporary restraining order on July 16, days after Phypers filed for divorce. The two later testified in court during Richards’ attempt to secure a permanent restraining order. Phypers was taken into custody on October 17 after testifying and was released on $200,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Phypers’ attorney, Michael Finley, confirmed the arrest to Us Weekly on Saturday, October 18. “We can confirm that Aaron Phypers was, in fact, arrested near the end of the family law court day on October 17, 2025, and was later released on bail,” Finley said. He added, “We have not seen the criminal complaint, but we believe that it is most likely based upon the same false accusations that Denise Richards has brought against Mr. Phypers in the family law domestic violence proceeding… If so, we expect that the evidence will demonstrate Mr. Phypers’ innocence and that he will be acquitted.”
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