Murphy on molestation charges: 'I did not do this'

HOUSTON (AP) Former Houston Rockets star Calvin Murphy declared Tuesday ``I did not do this'' regarding charges that he molested five of his daughters.

Murphy said the charges were ``money motivated,'' but declined to elaborate.

``Please don't jump to judgment,'' he said during a call-in program on KILT-AM in Houston. ``Give the system a chance to do its job, and then everything will come out to the light.''

Murphy was due to appear in court Wednesday on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child that were filed Monday. He is free on $90,000 bond.

``I did not do this,'' Murphy said, noting that he hadn't talked to the alleged victims in the case for ``quite some time.''

``My family is divided right now, obviously, and there are a lot of mixed emotions going around,'' he said.

Murphy also challenged a statement Monday by Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal that Murphy has a number of families around the country. ``I can assure you I have no other families,'' Murphy said, insisting that all 14 of his children are in the Houston area.

According to court documents, the alleged abuse occurred in Harris County between May 1988 and April 1991 when the five girls were under 17.

Murphy, a television analyst for the 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 free throws during his career and averaged 18 points per game.

He has taken a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties.

Murphy was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, and his retired number hangs from the rafters in Toyota Center.

Via Associated Press

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Former Rockets star Murphy charged

HOUSTON (AP) Hall of Fame guard Calvin Murphy surrendered to authorities Monday after being charged with sexually abusing his daughters more than a decade ago.

The former Houston Rockets star was charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of indecency with a child.

The charges involve five daughters who were under 17, the Harris County district clerk's office said. The daughters said Murphy sexually abused them between 1988-91, according to an affidavit by Drew Carter of the Texas Rangers.

The 55-year-old Murphy was released from jail after posting a $90,000 bond. Murphy had no comment.

Murphy's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said his client insists the charges are ``absolutely not true.''

``We believe (the alleged incidents of abuse) did not happen and Calvin is absolutely insistent they did not happen,'' Hardin said. ``Once these allegations are made, no one ever fully recovers. No matter what a jury says, he will always be branded with this.''

Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said his office has notified other jurisdictions about the charges. ``He has a number of families around the country, according to our research,''

Murphy, a TV analyst for the Rockets, was a star guard for the franchise from 1970-83. The 5-foot-9 player averaged 17.9 points and shot 89.2 percent from the line during his NBA career. He averaged 33.1 points in college at Niagara.

The Rockets granted Murphy a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties.

Via Associated Press

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Rockets PG Francis fined $25,000 by NBA

NEW YORK (AP) Houston Rockets point guard Steve Francis was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday for cursing during a halftime television interview and for criticizing officials.

Francis drew his league-leading 17th technical foul, then complained about what he considered a non-call in the closing seconds of the first half of Houston's 100-95 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

When an ESPN reporter approached him for a halftime interview, Francis swore and stormed off the court. He apologized shortly before the third quarter began.

Via Associated Press

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