Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula and his estranged wife continue to negotiate a deal on child custody and support.

Arambula’s wife, Elizabeth Arambula, filed for divorce Jan. 26 while he was in the middle of a 30-day rehabilitation stay for alcohol and marijuana addiction.

In a March 30 filing, Arambula alleges his wife “continues to deny me any time with the children.”

The parties return to court April 24 for a motion on child and spousal support before Fresno County Superior Court Judge Steven Crass. A hearing earlier this month was postponed because Crass was unavailable.

Arambula, D-Fresno, is running for Fresno City Council District 3 on the June 2 ballot.

Filing: ‘Continue to Deny Me Time With the Children’

In his declaration, Arambula said that in the absence of a child custody order, he would pick up the children March 27 for the weekend.

“To make sure I was unable to do so, Elizabeth removed the children from school early. Unless this court makes an order on an emergency basis granting me custody and visitation, Elizabeth will, I believe, continue to deny me time with the children,” Arambula wrote.

Arambula claimed he has paid his wife $10,000 for moving expenses, another $10,000 for her attorney, Zeppy Attashian, and $13,500 for support for February, March and April. Since January, Arambula said he has provided his wife with $45,584.

His wife also withdrew a total of $12,084 from a joint account.

Attashian did not immediately reply to a GV Wire request for comment.

Arambula also filed proposed stipulations March 30 regarding child custody and costs. Judge Jennifer Hamilton rejected the filing on technical grounds because it was not signed by the parties.

The proposal called for joint custody, with Arambula caring for the three daughters on weekends. One stipulation stated the “parent shall not associate with anyone who is abusing alcohol or using illicit drugs.” Neither parent would be allowed to be drunk during custody. Arambula volunteered to maintain sobriety, and submit to alcohol and drug monitoring and testing. He would also attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Communication would take place through a software program paid for by Arambula.

The stipulations also called for Arambula and his wife to enroll in a co-parenting program and children’s counseling. There is also a mutual non-disparagement agreement — that neither party would talk negatively about each other “within earshot of the minor children. Neither party shall permit third parties to make such remarks in the children’s presence.”

Arambula proposed paying $4,500 a month in family support. In her divorce filing, Elizabeth Arambula requested $27,000 a month in spousal and child support .

Arambula Cited for Speeding

Unrelated to the divorce case, Fresno police cited Arambula for speeding April 3.

The citation shows police pulled over Arambula for driving 62 mph in a 40 mph zone on West Shaw Avenue at Maroa Avenue. He was driving his black Cybertruck at the time.

Arambula must respond to the citation by July 2.