Judge denies bid to revoke alleged molester’s bail

Deepa Bharath

SANTA ANA -- A Superior Court judge on Friday denied a request by the

prosecution to revoke bail for a Newport Beach man who is facing charges

of child molestation and possession of child pornography.

Thomas Michael Murphy, 52, was charged in May with six counts of lewd

acts with a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. He is

accused of inappropriately touching three girls and showing them

pornographic material.

Authorities arrested Murphy at his Ruby Avenue home May 2 after an

investigation into the allegations. He was released from Orange County

Jail a few days later after posting $250,000 bail.

On Friday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jana Hoffmann failed to convince Judge

Frank F. Fasel that Murphy’s bail should be revoked.

The prosecution filed the motion based on a similar case in Nevada.

Hoffmann denied the motion because the district attorney in Nevada had

not pressed charges against the defendant.

Hoffmann spelled out allegations against Murphy that include touching

the three girls -- two 9-year-olds and one 11-year-old --

inappropriately. Officials said Murphy started befriending the girls in

December, inviting them for ice cream and other outings.

Detectives also found 10,000 images of child pornography that had been

downloaded onto his computer’s hard disk, Hoffmann said.

Murphy’s attorney, Eugene Ahtirski, argued that his client “had

legitimate reasons for touching the girls.” He added that all of the

alleged touching happened in public places. Ahtirski also said the

pornography found in his client’s home was “excessively characterized” by

officers.

“There was no oral copulation, no vaginal touching or force involved,”

Ahtirski said.

Murphy, who was present at the hearing in formal attire, sat tensely

as he listened to the arguments.

Fasel said he is “not prepared to convict Murphy without an extensive

hearing.” But he cautioned Murphy to “use better judgment” in his

personal life when he is out on bail.

Ahtirski said Murphy “cannot comment” on the case, but did say his

client has moved out of his Ruby Avenue home and the “immediate area.”

“He did that out of his own initiative,” Ahtirski said.

A trial date has been set for Jan. 8.