07-01-2004, 03:54 PM
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A grand jury indicted National Basketball Association Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy on Thursday on charges he sexually molested five of his daughters more than a decade ago.
Murphy, 55, pleaded not guilty, then tearfully told reporters he would fight the charges.
"Every time I hear these charges it just eats at me, but I am absolutely not guilty," the former Houston Rocket said. "I'm looking forward to my day in court."
Murphy, who was a TV commentator on Rockets games until the allegations first surfaced in March, is accused of fondling or performing oral sex on the girls between 1988 and 1991 when they ranged in age from 6 to 13.
He is charged with three counts of indecency with a child and three counts of aggravated sexual assault.
His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has suggested the charges arose from a family dispute over a $60,000 estate left by his late wife.
Prosecutor Lance Long in the past has denied that money was behind the accusations.
"I can say that the grand jury found probable cause (for charges) today. I can say there are five daughters that are the victims in these cases by three different mothers," he said on Thursday.
Murphy, who has 14 children with 9 women, could face up to life in prison if convicted of the crimes. He remains free on $20,000 bail.
Murphy, short for a professional basketball player at 5 feet 9 inches, played in the NBA from 1970 to 1983 and averaged 17.9 points per game.
![[Image: capt.dn20107011829.murphy_indicted_dn201.jpg]](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040701/capt.dn20107011829.murphy_indicted_dn201.jpg)
Murphy, 55, pleaded not guilty, then tearfully told reporters he would fight the charges.
"Every time I hear these charges it just eats at me, but I am absolutely not guilty," the former Houston Rocket said. "I'm looking forward to my day in court."
Murphy, who was a TV commentator on Rockets games until the allegations first surfaced in March, is accused of fondling or performing oral sex on the girls between 1988 and 1991 when they ranged in age from 6 to 13.
He is charged with three counts of indecency with a child and three counts of aggravated sexual assault.
His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has suggested the charges arose from a family dispute over a $60,000 estate left by his late wife.
Prosecutor Lance Long in the past has denied that money was behind the accusations.
"I can say that the grand jury found probable cause (for charges) today. I can say there are five daughters that are the victims in these cases by three different mothers," he said on Thursday.
Murphy, who has 14 children with 9 women, could face up to life in prison if convicted of the crimes. He remains free on $20,000 bail.
Murphy, short for a professional basketball player at 5 feet 9 inches, played in the NBA from 1970 to 1983 and averaged 17.9 points per game.