Dennis Rodman Granted Supervised Visits With Kids

Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, who was well-known for his wild Newport Beach parties, will remain under a restraining order barring him from contacting his ex-wife, but he can visit with their two children as long as an off-duty sheriff's deputy is available to monitor, an Orange County Superior Court commissioner ruled today.

Rodman also will be able to give his 10-year-old son, Dennis Jr., known as DJ, and his 11-year-old daughter, Trinity, a pre-paid cellphone so he can speak with them, as well, according to Orange County Court Commissioner Renee Wilson's order.

"It's not what I want, but it's OK," Rodman said. "It's better than nothing."

The restraining order stems from Michelle Rodman's allegations during testimony Thursday that her ex-husband showed up unannounced at her Costa Mesa apartment about 2:30 a.m. May 28 and was acting drunk and "obnoxious."

Wilson on May 30. A full trial on the restraining order and issues related to the divorce, including spousal support, is scheduled for Oct. 23-24.

Another hearing will be held Aug. 17 on whether Rodman should pay his ex- wife's attorneys' fees.

Michelle Rodman's attorney, Mary Ann Noiroux, told Wilson her client cannot afford to pay her legal bills. Noiroux contends that Rodman can "fully afford" to pay for his own attorneys, and she claimed his representatives have publicly said Rodman is making a good income from appearances and special events.

Rodman appeared in a Santa Ana courtroom today with a T-shirt that read, "Born free, live free, die free." He did not testify.

Rodman changed to a button-down shirt by the afternoon hearing in another courtroom on a separate issue in Orange. He was also wearing a Los Angeles Kings cap.

Rodman's visits with the children can be up to four hours with the monitor. His ex-wife will not be present at the visits, the commissioner said.

Rodman had a busy court schedule today. He briefly testified in Orange in a hearing before Commissioner Barry Michaelson, who will determine sentencing on a second contempt of court case and to calculate how much money the athlete owes his ex-wife.

Michelle Rodman's attorney in that dispute, Jack Kayajanian, claims the retired NBA star owes about $800,000 in child and support payments. Rodman is claiming he owes about $150,000, Kayajanian said.

Rodman's financial manager Peggy Williams testified about several payments made on his behalf that she claims were not recorded.

On May 29, Michaelson sentenced Rodman to 104 hours of community service for falling behind in child and spousal support payments.

Rodman also denies his ex-wife's allegations in her testimony, including claims that he grabbed her by the arms and pushed her into her bedroom and that he ordered Jagermeister shots while at breakfast with his ex-wife and son at a Costa Mesa restaurant.

Rodman said he doesn't hold any grudges about his ex-wife's testimony.

"I'm not upset," he said. "Michelle has always been a good mother."

Rodman also said he feels he has been treated "very fairly" in the legal proceedings.

Rodman's attorney, Linnea Willis, denied Michelle Rodman's allegations in her testimony.

"We also have an independent witness who was also present and will contradict what Michelle has said," Willis said. "In addition, anyone who knows Dennis knows that he is not a violent person. Dennis' agent, Darren Prince, says, 'I have seen Michelle hit Dennis on numerous occasions, throw bottles at him, and yell at him obnoxiously, and Dennis walks away every time.' "

Michelle Rodman said her main concern is getting enough money to buy a vehicle, which her family lacks now.

-City News Service