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Wife Claims '7th Heaven' Actor Had 'Secret Life'

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The wife of former "7th Heaven" star Stephen Collins said she recorded audio of his alleged child-molestation confession to prevent it from happening to other children, according to a court filing that refers to the actor as a narcissist with "sociopathic tendencies" and a "secret life."

Collins' attorney said Grant threatened to release the audio unless her husband paid her millions.

DOCUMENT: Court Filing Details Alleged Molestation

Faye Grant claims she knew her 27-year marriage was over when the couple was in a therapy session Jan. 19, 2012:

"In the presence of his therapist, Stephen admitted that he has engaged in a long-term pattern of sexually abusing minor children, including sexually molesting three young girls over a decade ago. Stephen's therapist subsequently disclosed to me that Stephen has narcissistic personality disorder with sociopathic tendencies. I believe that Stephen used his celebrity status to engender the trust of the families of the children he molested. I further believe that there have been other victims, but he has thus far only confessed to those three girls."

Grant said it was the first time she became aware of the alleged pedophilia and they separated Feb. 2, 2012.

She said she had already been grappling with her husband's alleged sex addiction. He was getting help for that with a 12-step program but he allegeldy refused to get "proper help or hospitalization for his predilection toward children" and insisted that her concerns were unfounded.

In December of that year, Grant said, she was contacted by the husband of one of the alleged victims, who's now in her 20s: "He berated me for my cowardice in not turning Stephen in to the police. He then called me on the phone and threatened to bring a civil lawsuit against me for Stephen's assaults."

"Obviously, I am sickened by Stephen's actions. I have spent the past 20 months coping with the trauma of learning about Stephen's illness and worrying about my moral and legal responsibility."

Grant submitted the court filing in order to separate herself from Collins' alleged liability: "I am also afraid of the potential consequences that Stephen's behavior may have for me, including risking my reputation and livelihood. I also feel that I may potentially face civil (or even criminal) liability for Stephen's actions."

The allegations were made public when TMZ released audio Tuesday of Collins, 67, allegedly admitting to molesting three young girls more than a decade prior. TMZ said Grant secretly recorded the audio during the therapy session.

In paperwork submitted with her divorce filing, Grant said that immediately after the alleged confession, she reported it to police in New York and L.A.

She claims she urged the actor to seek treatment for pedophilia and goes on to say "I am particularly afraid of what may happen if he doesn't seek treatment ... because he may be working or interaction with children in connection with his employment."

AUDIO: Stephen Collins Allegedly Confesses To Molesting 3 Girls

According to TMZ, Collins' first alleged victim is a relative of Collins' first wife. The victim claimed the abuse took place in 1972, when Collins was living in New York. She said he was in his 20s and she was 14 at the time.

Collins allegedly admitted to the therapist that he exposed himself to the first victim when she was 11, 12 and 13 years old, TMZ reported.

The alleged second victim was the niece of a "woman who lived across the way" from the Collins' home in Los Angeles, according to the audio recording. Collins and Grant once shared a home in Brentwood but neighbors told CBS2/KCAL9's Kristine Lazar they haven't seen them in more than a year.

"There was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis," Collins is purportedly heard saying. "It lasted a few seconds, and that was the last time."

In 2012, the LAPD looked into allegations of abuse involving the actor but shelved the case when they couldn't locate a victim, Officer Nuria Vanega said. Amid the new allegations, investigators are taking a second look.

The LAPD and New York City police confirm they have the secretly taped recordings and are investigating the claims.

Collins' attorney said he's going to fight this. He said Grant had threatened to release the audiotapes unless the actor paid her millions.

The actor has been keeping a low profile since the audio was made public. Although the LAPD, while checking on a shooting report at Collins' rental home in Tarzana, said they had contacted him Tuesday night and he was safe.

"I don't believe it. I honestly don't," a neighbor walking near the Tarzana home told CBS2/KCAL9's Kristine Lazar.

"And why is that?" Lazar said.

"I just never imagined him being that," she replied.

Another neighbor, Leah Staszrwer, said she wants Collins and the girlfriend he's been living with out of the home: "It's very scary. I have girls that are my granddaughters. I have an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old so."

Meanwhile, several channels, including UP TV and the TV Guide Channel, are pulling episodes of "7th Heaven" from their lineup. The hit show "Scandal" said it is deleting scenes shot with Collins from upcoming episodes.

Related Stories:
Report: '7th Heaven' Actor Confessed To Molesting Young Girls
False Shooting Report Triggers Uproar At Actor Stephen Collins' Tarzana Home

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