RHOBH’s Erika Jayne, 51, caught on ‘date’ with lawyer Jim Wilkes, 72- who was just arrested for ‘shooting gun in fight’
REAL Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne has been pictured on a rumored date with a controversial lawyer who was recently arrested for 'shooting a gun in a domestic dispute,' The U.S. Sun has learned.
The 51-year-old, who is still in the middle of a messy divorce from disgraced former lawyer Tom Girardi, was snapped with a man named Jim Wilkes II, according to online sleuths.
The U.S. Sun obtained the original image from the Blonde Hair Black Heart Podcast with Blake Adam, featuring Erika walking through Caeser's Palace in Las Vegas showcasing her slender new frame.
The Bravo star is preparing for her residency at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and has admitted previously she is dating again.
She is seen in the snap followed by her male companion wearing a pair of oversized sunglasses with a black patterned top, shiny red leggings, and matching heels.
Attorney Ronald Richards, who was previously a part of her ex Girardi's estate case and has spoken to The U.S. Sun, identified her mystery man on Twitter.
Erika Jayne
Online sleuths have also shared photographs of 72-year-old Wilkes, who follows Erika online and has reportedly been her financial backer in recent months.
Jim has previously been mentioned in media reports as a "longtime associate" of Erika's ex, who allegedly sent just under $500,000 to Erika amid her divorce, according to court documents released by Richards online.
MONEY MAN
"Erika filed a summary judgment motion to get herself out of the case, and in response, the law firm noted that Erika was receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars for her legal fees from an attorney named James Lewis Wilkes, II, via Wilkes' law firm," the filing read.
The U.S. Sun has made multiple attempts to reach Wilkes for comment but did not hear back.
A rep for Erika was also contacted by The U.S. Sun.
Wilkes' Instagram account shows Erika follows him, with photographs also showing him shirtless and playing golf, many of which have been liked by the reality TV star.
His Instagram bio reads: "US Army '69-72 Vietnam Vet songwriter, music publisher, lawyer, elder advocate, world champion boxing manager, political consultant, humanitarian."
Many Instagram posts show him with a number of big names, including actor Clint Eastwood and Barack Obama.
Back in June 2017, he shared a snap of Erika and her ex, with the caption: "We miss our Tom and Erika. Melania and I are ready for a retro trip to the Med."
Erika replied underneath: "We miss you too."
An article from the Tampa Bay Times in 2019 describes Melania as his wife during a time when he was selling their $11million mansion.
But court documents exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun show he is now married to a woman named Trista Tauchas, but the pair are already going through a divorce.
It appears much like Erika's ex, Wilkes is no stranger to being in hot water himself, having recently been arrested amid his messy split.
The lawyer, who reportedly gained national notoriety for suing nursing homes, is facing criminal charges after firing two shots inside his home during a domestic dispute just last month.
'DOMESTIC DISPUTE'
Police reportedly arrested him on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, and misdemeanor battery, per the Tampa Bay Times.
The report says Wilkes told police the woman hit him in the head, possibly with her hand, and he grabbed a .45-caliber handgun as he was afraid she would pick it up.
He told police he fired one round from into the bed and another into a bathroom wall to scare the woman and end their argument, the report further claims.
Although Wilkes insists he did not aim the gun at the woman, she told authorities she hit Wilkes and after he fired two rounds he put the gun to her head and her torso and threatened to kill her.
The woman involved in the incident on April 10, whose name and relationship to Wilkes are redacted from the initial report, also might be prosecuted, authorities said at the time.
Police reportedly obtained a risk protection order to remove several guns and ammunition that the lawyer had in the house.
Wilkes' attorney, Ronald Kurpiers II, told the outlet: "He was attacked and he was defending himself. That’s the extent of it."
The case is still going through the court and a preliminary hearing is set to be scheduled shortly.
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Further documents obtained by The U.S. Sun on April 26 show Wilkes requested a domestic violence injunction, also known as a restraining order, against his estranged wife Tauchas.
It was later granted and a hearing has been set for their divorce proceedings for July 26, according to Hillsborough County Clerk.
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