Stephen Collins and Faye Grant, whose nasty divorce became the center of media attention last fall, have reached a settlement. The proceedings grabbed headlines when a tape of the former 7th Heaven actor admitting to child molestation leaked.
The case was going to go to a trial, which was set to start on Feb. 9. However, TMZ reports that their attorneys spent four days trying to come to a settlement to avoid that. They reached a 50/50 split of a fortune that is estimated to be worth $14 million.
TMZ does report that copies of the audio tapes of Collins admitting to child molestation will be destroyed. However, the original will still be around and Grant has to give it to Collins’ attorney. He will keep it locked away for a decade, unless there’s a subpoena.
Collins, who also appeared in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, found himself in the middle of a media firestorm after that tape leaked on TMZ. In December, he did an interview with Katie Couric, saying that he tried to put this all behind him.
“I had put that stuff behind me,” Collins told Couric on ABC News’ 20/20. “Most people get to, or have to or choose to hide it. This came out. I didn’t choose this to come out. I didn’t want to have to deal with these things publicly.”
He also apologized in a lengthy letter to People Magazine.
image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com