'7th Heaven' actor Stephen Collins fed up with lengthy divorce process

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Actor Stephen Collins has entered into a new phase in damage control.

After facing the camera to explain incidents of inappropriate conduct decades ago with female minors, he appeared at a pre-trial court hearing Monday to make a point.

He said he is fed up with tactics by his estranged wife Faye Grant that have stalled their divorce trial for almost 3 years.

He said she secretly recorded his disclosures about the girls in a therapy session, then allowed the tape to be leaked.

The former "7th Heaven" star, who played the virtuous pastor, said no one is hiring him now and he can't afford the $13,000 spousal support he pays Grant each month. Grant denies leaking the tape, but Collins' lawyer, Marc Vincent Kaplan, said that is not true.

Grant's divorce lawyer has not commented on the accusations, and she has changed counsel six times.

In court, there were tense exchanges between lawyers and a judge who requested the parties appear in settlement court to narrow their differences. Kaplan agreed to another negotiation session, but told the judge he had zero confidence anything would change.

The judge declared there would be no further delays and the trial is scheduled for Feb. 9. It is expected to last six days.