Former Rocket Murphy charged with molesting 5 of his children

Houston Chronicle ^ | 4-29-04 | ROSANNA RUIZ

[truthandlife]

Former Houston Rocket Calvin Murphy, 55, was charged today with sexually molesting five of his own children in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a Harris County prosecutor said.

Murphy, a Sugar Land resident and now color commentator for the team, was charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child, said Lance Long, an assistant district attorney.

Murphy had no comment when he surrendered to authorities. His attorney, Rusty Hardin, did not immediately return calls seeking comment

The charges, that are alleged to have occurred from 1988-1991, involve five daughters who were under 17, the Harris County district clerk's office said. The five girls are now adults, Long said, and are Murphy's children by three different women. Murphy has a total of 14 children, he said.

If convicted, Murphy faces five years to life in prison for the aggravated offenses and two to 20 years for the others, Long said.

However, he added, Murphy does not have a criminal history and could be eligible for probation if he is convicted.

Long would not reveal the origin of the investigation, saying only that it has been ongoing for several weeks.

He declined to confirm reports that Murphy, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, was expected to turn himself in today.

Long urged anyone else who "thinks they've been treated inappropriately" by Murphy to call the district attorney's office at 713-755-6178. He would not say whether he knows of other alleged victims.

The Rockets said Murphy asked for and received a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties.

[Mr. Mojo]

Very, very disappointing. Calvin was terrific talent, and the toughest little player I've ever seen.

[SouthernFreebird]

However, he added, Murphy does not have a criminal history and could be eligible for probation if he is convicted.

What the he!!...? probation for a convicted child molester?

[deport]

He should have stuck with twirling.......

[Ramius]

How awful, if true.

This is an awfully long time to pass for anyone to speak out, though. He wouldn't be going through a nasty divorce by any chance?

[truthandlife]

It is very sickening to me and to every other Houston Rocket fan who have loved Murphy as the Rockets' color commentator.

I hope it is not true but when you have 5 children accusing your dad of the same thing, you might be in a lot of trouble.

I believe every child molestor should be put in jail for life without parole.

[anniegetyourgun]

Ugh. I hate reading any story on FR about little children being hurt.

[1riot1ranger]

Must be something in the Sugarland water. First Jon Mathews, now Calvin.

[Charles Henrickson]

The five girls . . . are Murphy's children by three different women. Murphy has a total of 14 children. . . .

That's a little below league average, I think.

[breakem]

http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MURPHCA01

Murphy's b-ball record

[TheSpottedOwl]

This is an awfully long time to pass for anyone to speak out, though. He wouldn't be going through a nasty divorce by any chance?

These 5 children are by 3 different women, with a total of 14 children? I agree that it is an awfully long time to bring this up, if true...

[open mind-closed fist]

The five girls . . . are Murphy's children by three different women. Murphy has a total of 14 children.

That's a little below league average, I think.

I had a mouthfull of beer...and now I have a mess to clean up! :-)

[truthandlife]

If you were under the age of 18 would you go to someone to say your dad molested you?

I know we don't know much about the case but I am sure 1 of the children came forward and then as they investigated the other children, they found that there were 4 others that were also molested.

I am sure this was investigated thoroughly before this happened because Murphy is an African American and he is very popular in the Houston community. The DA would not be able to find another job if these were just false accusations.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

He wouldn't be going through a nasty divorce by any chance?

Yeah, right!

14 kids with 3 women.......I don't think the word, marriage, applies here.

How about stable?

[connectthedots]

did you read about the latest case of WA DSHS child molestations in Pierce County, WA?

Did you ever read the true story about the Olympia Kiwanas Boys Ranch; or about King County superior court judge (committed suicide when his child rape charges were about to be exposed by the Seattle Times many years ago)?

WA SC CJ Alexander is up to his eyeballs in racketeering.

[deport]

I agree that it is an awfully long time to bring this up, if true...

---

You wouldn't feel the same about a murder committed oh say 20 years ago would you?

[mafree]

This is too bad..I remember Murphy from his college days. If the charges are true he should pay- no ifs, ands and buts.

[deport]

Former Rockets star Calvin Murphy charged with sexual assault, indecency with children

07:54 PM CST on Monday, March 29, 2004

Associated Press

Click to watch Jason Whitely's report

Video: Calvin Murphy turns himself in

HOUSTON (AP) -- Former Houston Rockets star Calvin Murphy was charged Monday with three counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child, all allegations that involve his children, prosecutors said.

Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said his office has notified other jurisdictions about the charges as an investigation into Murphy continues.

KHOU

Murphy now works as an analyst for the Houston Rockets.

"He has a number of families around the country, according to our research," Rosenthal said.

Murphy surrendered at the Harris County Sheriff's Department annex, next to the county jail, shortly after 6 p.m. He had no comment.

Murphy's attorney, Rusty Hardin, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Murphy, a television analyst for the Houston Rockets, was a star guard for the franchise from 1970 to 1983. The Hall of Fame sharpshooter, who at 5-foot-9 was known as the "Pocket Rocket," shot 89 percent on his free throws during his career and averaged 18 points a game.

The Rockets said in a statement that Murphy asked for and received a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties.

The alleged indecency occurred in Harris County over a period of several years, Rosenthal said. The charges involved five girls under 17 and the alleged conduct occurred between May 1988 and April 1991, according to the Harris County district clerk's office.

According to an affidavit by Drew Carter of the Texas Rangers, the five daughters said Murphy either fondled them, performed oral sex or both.

Murphy was a high school star at Norwalk, Conn., before moving on to little Niagara University, where he was a two-time consensus All-America and led the school to a 22-7 record and an NCAA tournament berth in 1970.

He was drafted in the second round that year by the San Diego Rockets, who moved to Houston the following year, and quickly became a fan favorite despite playing on several bad teams. His 17,949 points were a franchise high until Hakeem Olajuwon passed him.

Murphy missed just nine free throws -- and made 78 straight in one stretch -- in 1980-81 for a record single-season percentage of .958.

He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and his number hangs retired in the Toyota Center rafters

[Ramius]

14 kids with 3 women.......

Fair enough.

It just makes me think, when there is somebody with money to lose, and charges that are over 14 years old... that maybe there are other motives here. I keep waiting to hear that this involves "recovered memories" from some head-shrinker.

But sometimes crimes like this aren't reported for years. It could well be true. This is a case, though, where "alleged" needs to be carefully reinforced until more is known.

[truthandlife]

According to an affidavit by Drew Carter of the Texas Rangers, the five daughters said Murphy either fondled them, performed oral sex or both.

If this is true, I hope he gets life in prison with no parole. Pray for his family and every single family that he has interacted with or molested.