Mickey Rooney Gets Restraining Order Against Stepson
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A judge imposed a temporary conservatorship over Mickey Rooney and issued a restraining order against one of his stepsons on grounds the man has taken control of the 90-year-old actor's personal and financial affairs, court papers show.
The stay-away order issued Monday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz directs Christopher Thomas Aber to stay at least 100 yards from Rooney, his home, another stepson, 48-year-old Mark Aber Rooney, and the latter's wife, 58-year-old Charlene Rooney. Both have lived with the actor since April 2009.
The second order gives Alhambra attorney Michael R. Augustine temporary conservatorship powers over Rooney and his estate.
The former child star of the Andy Hardy films voluntarily asked for the conservatorship to protect his assets in the wake of Aber's alleged actions, according to his court papers.
Christopher Aber, 52, regularly goes to Rooney's home unannounced and `threatens, intimidates, bullies and harasses Mickey," the petition alleges. "Mickey is effectively a prisoner in his home."
Rooney fears Aber wants to divert the actor's assets to his own use, force him to sign documents that would turn over his rights to Aber and require him to make appearances at public events where he does not wish to be, according to the petition.
"Chris has blocked Mickey's access to his mail and will not provide Mickey with any information about his finances other than to tell him that Mickey is broke," according to the petition, which also alleges that Aber has "deprived Mickey of medications he needs and daily necessities, including food," and confiscated his passport and medical insurance and identification cards.
"Mickey is extremely fearful that Chris will become physically threatening against Mickey and may even attempt to kidnap Mickey from his home, where Mickey has lived for over 15 years and wishes to continue residing," his
petition states.
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