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Denise Richards‘ estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, is being accused of attempting to prevent his cousin, Kathleen McAllister, from speaking out about his alleged abuse.
Following Kathleen’s appearance at a restraining order hearing earlier this month, during which the 54-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star aimed to have her temporary order against Aaron, 53, made permanent, prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Aaron, claiming he threatened the woman.
In the court documents, which were filed in Los Angeles on October 15 and obtained by Us Weekly on October 22, it was noted that Aaron had been charged with four felonies, including two counts related to injuring a spouse and two others related to dissuading a witness by force or threat, before his October 17 arrest.
In the prosecution’s new filing, they explained that one of the charges related to the witness involved Kathleen, who previously worked with Aaron at his wellness center in Malibu, California.
According to the report, an alleged incident took place on January 17, 2022, during which Aaron reportedly “knowingly and maliciously” committed an act accompanied by “force and an express and implied threat of force and violence” against Denise and Kathleen.
In the restraining order request she made in July, Denise spoke of an alleged incident involving a female family member. As she told the court, Aaron allegedly hit her in the eye with his palm after suspecting potted plants had been bugged, leading the woman, who witnessed the alleged assault, to retrieve frozen foods in an effort to reduce swelling.
Following Aaron’s arrest last Friday, he posted $200,000 bond and was released.
During her testimony against Aaron weeks ago, Kathleen recounted Aaron’s alleged assault on Denise.
“I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,” Kathleen said, via PEOPLE. “I’m literally in shock now to this day about it.”
“[Denise] was in shock, I was in shock,” she continued. “[It was an] evening of chaos and arguing [that] kept escalating.”
Aaron is facing years in prison as a result of the charges against him.