Army vet pleads not guilty to sexual abuse allegations
Retired Army reservist Michael Barry Murphy, who allegedly sexually abused a minor in 2016, pleaded not guilty to both sexual assault charges made against him.
During an arraignment hearing yesterday, the 56-year-old Murphy offered a plea of not guilty to the charges of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree charged against him.
Murphy was represented by public defender Heather Zona after Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja found him to be indigent.
A status conference for Murphy is set for March 12, at 1:30pm.
Murphy was charged by the government after allegedly sexually abusing a then 4-year-old child.
According to court information, on or about Aug. 6, 2016, Murphy allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a minor child who was 4 at the time.
Murphy is currently released after posting a $50,000 bond.
In a previous article on Saipan Tribune, there was another pending sexual abuse of a minor case filed against Murphy.
In the pending case, the government charges Murphy with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree and one count of indecent exposure in the first degree.
The incident allegedly happened from 1994 to 2004 when the victim was a minor. The victim would now be 28 years old.
