Dennis Rodman faces jail time in O.C. court case [Updated]

Former Newport resident, NBA star goes to court Tuesday over back child and spousal support. His attorney says he owes more than he makes annually.

March 26, 2012|By Lauren Williams

Dennis Rodman, a former Newport Beach resident and NBA… (KENT TREPTOW, Daily…)

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman faces up to 20 days in jail Tuesday for failure to pay spousal and child support, according to an attorney for his ex-wife.

The Hall of Fame player, whose years as a West Newport resident drew the ire of neighbors and the attention of police, is scheduled to appear at a contempt of court hearing Tuesday in Orange.

As of March 1, Rodman, 50, owed $808,935 in back child support for the 9- and 10-year-old children that he had with his third wife, Michelle Rodman, said her attorney, Jack Kayajanian, in court documents.

FOR THE RECORD:
An earlier version incorrectly said Dennis Rodman is 51. He is 50.

Rodman also owed $51,441 through March 1 in back spousal support, Kayajanian alleged in court documents.

Michelle Rodman, identified in court papers as a Costa Mesa resident, is also requesting attorneys' fees.

Dennis Rodman's attorney, Linnea Willis, said in court documents that the former Laker is barely capable of paying for his living expenses, let alone the $5,000 he has for one child from another relationship, and the $4,500 monthly payment for spousal and child support to Michelle Rodman.

The attorneys who have represented him to date have worked pro bono, Willis said.

"Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees," according to court documents filed on his behalf.

He is "extremely sick" and his marketability is diminishing with age and illness, according to court documents.

This year, Rodman paid more in child support than he earned, according to court records.

"Michelle Rodman has already been paid $13,500 this year, even though Dennis Rodman has only made $8,000 this year," Willis said in court documents. "The only way he is even able to keep up with support obligations is to borrow money from his finance manager Peggy Williams and his agent Darren Prince."

Some of Rodman's financial hardships stem from having cashed out his NBA retirement for pennies on the dollar so he could pay back taxes owed to the state of California for 2002-03, according to documents filed with the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange.

Rodman still owes more than $350,000 in back taxes, according to court documents, but Willis said Rodman's taxes were done improperly by a former accountant. That figure is disputed by his current counsel, who says he owes about $100,000.

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