Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards Custody Battle Heats Up

By: Shannon Gossage

Sheen and Richards seemed to have been getting along amicably following their divorce, but things have turned sour since Sheen has been trying to get more time to visit with daughters – Sam, 3, and Lola, 2. He is also requesting that Richards’ not have the authority to select which nannies are present during his visitations with the girls, and wants to be able to hire a nanny of his own choosing for when the girls are in his custody. He said in the court documents, "It is not necessary, appropriate, or in the best interest of my children that [Richards] selects child care providers for my custodial periods." Sheen said in an interview, "What I am doing is pursuing a relationship with my daughters that is unpolluted."

Sheen, 41, is also requesting that Richards be barred from calling his home when the children are in his custody. He said that Richards has "repeatedly made unnecessary telephone calls to me and to my home. These calls have resulted in disputes between us." He said, "When I’m here with the girls, I don’t need to be answering the phone 20 times a day. If there’s a problem, I’ll call." Sheen is currently engaged to Brooke Mueller, 29, and said that she has a "strong relationship" with his children and that they "provide a more than structured and safe environment" for the children.

Richards, 36, abruptly filed for divorce in March 2005 when she was six-months pregnant with their second child. Their marriage was "legally ended" last November, but the divorce will not be complete until the custody arrangement and final division of assets is complete. No wedding date has been set for Sheen and Mueller since it is up in the air as to when his divorce will be finalized.