Denise Richards' Ex Aaron Phypers Facing Years in Prison After Arrest

Denise Richards’ estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, is facing several years behind bars after he was charged with four felony counts following his courtroom arrest last week.

Phypers, 53, was hit with two felony counts of injuring a spouse and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat, Us Weekly can confirm.

According to court documents obtained by Us, the Deputy District Attorney officially charged Richards’ ex on Friday, October 17, after he was taken into custody.

The first three counts are connected to an alleged incident from January 17, 2022. The fourth charge is related to another alleged incident between the exes that is said to have occurred on May 3, 2022.

If convicted, Phypers could face years in prison.

One felony count of injury to a spouse holds a sentence of 2-4 years. If convicted of both felony counts of injuring a spouse, Phypers could be sentenced to double the time.

Phypers’ arraignment is scheduled to take place on December 19.

Us has reached out to Phypers and Richards’ attorneys for comment.

Phypers was arrested on Friday during his ongoing court battle with Richards.

The Wild Things actress is asking the court to turn her temporary restraining order against her estranged husband into a permanent one.

“He’s been arrested outside the court and taken down a nearby escalator. [He] did not come back into [the] hallway,” an eyewitness told Us at the time. “Denise is here. She’s calm and talking to her team.” Phypers seemed “confused,” as did his attorney, per the second eyewitness, who noted Richards’ ex “didn’t seem to understand that he was about to get arrested.”

Phypers was released from jail hours later after posting his $200,000 bond.

Richards’ temporary restraining order was extended to November 7, when the exes will face off for another hearing in the matter.

Following his release, Phypers’ attorney exclusively told Us, “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.”

Their statement continued, “We have not seen the criminal complaint, but we believe that it is most likely based upon some of the same false accusations that Denise Richards has brought against Mr. Phypers in the family law domestic violence proceeding, which she claims occurred nearly four years ago. If so, we expect that the evidence will demonstrate Mr. Phypers’ innocence and that he will be acquitted.”

Richards married the fitness instructor in September 2018.

Phypers filed for divorce in July after six years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

That same month, Richards went public with domestic violence allegations. In court filings, the actress accused Phypers of being abusive during their relationship.

“Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head,” Richards alleged in the documents. “[He would] aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me and hack into my laptop and phone and download all of my text messages.”

Phypers denied ever being violent with Richards, telling Us that he believes she “conjured up” her accusations.

“I have the real evidence,” Phypers claimed to Us in a July statement. “I want to address recent rumors and speculation that have surfaced regarding my relationship with my wife, Denise Richards. Let me be unequivocally clear: I have never physically or emotionally abused Denise — or anyone.”
While testifying in court, Phypers again denied the accusations that he gave Richards a black eye during an alleged fight at his since-closed wellness center in 2022.

His cousin, Dr. Kathleen McAllister, contradicted Phypers’ claim, testifying in court that she saw him allegedly hit Richards, resulting in the black eye.

Phypers put the blame on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, claiming his wife told him she had fallen on a pole outside his wellness center while drinking.

Phypers continued to testify that he never got violent with Richards during their relationship.

Before their marriage, Richards was married to Charlie Sheen from 2002 to 2006. They share two daughters — Sami, 21, and Lola, 20. Richards is also a mom to her adopted daughter, Eloise, 14.

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.