Dennis Rodman could face jail over child and spousal support

Dennis Rodman ‘extremely sick’ and ‘broke’ his lawyer claims as ex-NBA great faces jail time over ‘nearly $1million in unpaid child and spousal support’His reputation for living dangerously has followed him since his retirement from the NBA.But former basketball star Dennis Rodman is now ‘broke’ and ‘extremely sick’, according to his lawyer.Attorney Linnea Willis says the 50-year-old is suffering from alcoholism and is barely able to cover his living expenses, as he fights off claims the Hall of Fame player owes nearly $1million in child and spousal support.Rodman faces up to 20 days in jail for missed payments.Court documents obtained by The Daily Record show as of March 1 Rodman owed $808,935 in child support for his nine- and ten-year-old children.Rodman also owed $51,441 through March 1 in back spousal support, Jack Kayajanian, attorney for his ex-wife, Michelle Moyer, claims in the filings.The news outlet reports Michelle Rodman is identified in the documents as a Costa Mesa, California resident. She is also requesting attorneys’ fees.But the former athlete’s attorney says it’s unreasonable to expect Rodman can afford 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.‘Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees,’ Mr Willis writes in filings on his behalf, adding that he is ‘extremely sick’.‘...And in all honesty, Dennis, although a very sweet person, is an alcoholic,’ Mr Willis writes.‘His sickness impacts his ability to get work. This case, especially his wife filling for divorce, has put him on a binge that I have never seen before. He is extremely hurt and extremely sick. He is often unable to obtain work because of this sickness. And his sickness is getting increasingly worse.‘Dennis cannot afford his own monthly expenses. If the court awards attorney fees, it is setting Dennis up to be in contempt because you cannot get blood from a turnip,’ Mr Willis contends.The attorney says those who have represented Rodman to date have worked pro bono.Mr Willis claims Rodman this year has paid more in child support than he’s earned; and that he has only been able to pay by borrowing money from his finance manager, Peggy Williams, and his agent, Darren Prince, according to The Daily Record.Mr Willis claims Rodman has made $8,000 this year, a staggering difference from the $570,000 in earnings he claimed at the time his wife filed for divorce.The former couple married in 2003 on Rodman’s 42nd birthday, settling in Newport beach, California.According to a Los Angeles Times article published in 2004, Rodman listed his monthly expenses then as more than $30,000. Michelle Rodman listed her monthly expenses as $17,000.But in 2008 police were called to a domestic violence incident at a Los Angeles hotel.Rodman pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor spousal battery charges and was sentenced to one year of domestic violence counselling and three years probation. He received 45 hours of community service.Rodman later entered rehab for treatment for drug abuse, and appeared on Celebrity Rehab.The reality television stint came long after Rodman retired from NBA basketball in the 1999-2000 season after a 14-year career, known then as one of the most revered rebounders in the NBA.Rodman is scheduled for a court hearing in Orange County, California on Tuesday.The discrepancy over his spousal and child support payments are not his only financial woes, however.The Daily Record reports Rodman owes more than $350,000 in back taxes, which Mr Willis says were calculated incorrectly by a former accountant. He claims his client owes about $100,000.