Dennis Rodman ordered to pay $500,000 child support

A judge has ordered Dennis Rodman to pay his ex-wife $500,000 in child support and warned the former basketball bad boy he faces jail if he fails to hand over the cash.

The ex-sports star has been embroiled in a long-running legal battle with his former partner Michelle over payments for their two children, and in May (12), Rodman was ordered to carry out community service and placed on informal probation after he was found to be in contempt of court.

Rodman was found in contempt again on Thursday (06Dec12), when a judge in California ordered him to hand over $500,000 in back payments to Michelle and told him he could face jail if he doesn't pay up.

Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Barry Michaelson also sentenced him to informal probation which will continue until the end of 2013.

Michelle's attorney, Mary Ann Noiroux says, "She's relieved to have the hearing over. It does not make her happy to have Dennis penalised in any way. But I think there's relief for the resolution of these issues, which have been so emotional and have gone on for years."

They are still to work out a custody deal over their two children. A trial to decide the matter has been set for January (13).

The former couple wed in 2003, but Michelle filed divorce papers to end their union a year later (04).