A Texas grand jury indicted eccentric millionaire artist Stanley Marsh 3 on charges that he sexually assaulted six teenagers, documents released to his attorneys on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press.
Marsh was indicted Wednesday on four counts of sexual assault of a child, eight counts of sexual performance by a child, and two counts of indecency with a child. His attorneys have denied the allegations. If convicted, Marsh, the son of an oil tycoon, faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 on each of the felony counts.
Marsh suffered a massive stroke in 2011, as has been treated for prostrate cancer. The allegations all date from before then. His wife is now his legal guardian.
Marsh turned himself in at the Potter County Detention Center on Thursday afternoon and was released after posting $100,000 bond.
Paul Nugent and Heather Peterson, said in a prepared statement: "There should be no premature rush to judgment," the statement said. "Now that we have notice of the specific allegations, we will commence our investigation, which will be thorough and rigorous. We have great faith in our legal system, and welcome the challenge of exposing the truth, and defending our friend and client, Mr. Marsh."
The indictments include four additional alleged victims who were not part of criminal charges filed in November.
Marsh is best known for sponsoring the pop art landmark "Cadillac Ranch" in the early 1970s. He settled civil lawsuits in February involving 10 teenagers who alleged he paid them for sex. Marsh has been free on bond since he turned himself in on a November arrest warrant for six counts of child sexual assault and five counts of sexual performance of a child. Those allegations involved a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old.
A statement from his lawyers then noted the accusers had filed civil suits "seeking millions of dollars" and that they had waited to come forward until after Marsh's stroke.
Marsh, who uses the Arabic numeral '3' in his legal name, the AP reported.
In 2001, there were four lawsuits leveled at Marsh for alleged imprisonment, sexual misconduct and harassment of teens. These cases were settled. In 1998, Marsh pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint and criminal trespassing as part of an agreement that dismissed five felony charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and indecency with a child. He served 10 days in jail and paid $4,000 in fines.
In 1996, Marsh settled a lawsuit with a youth who claimed Marsh sexually abused him.
