Ailing Sex Offender May Go to Jail

A 72-year-old Camarillo man whose prison term for child molestation was delayed because he developed prostate cancer may be healthy enough to serve his sentence as early as next month, a defense attorney said Thursday.

Charles Soul Murphy, a retired maintenance worker who pleaded guilty to six counts of unlawful sex with minors, is “healing nicely” from the springtime surgery, said attorney Louis B. Samonsky Jr.

Samonsky told Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr. that his client’s physician has reported improvement in Murphy’s condition.

In January, Campbell sentenced Murphy to five years in prison for his crimes.

But the sentence was canceled when Samonsky argued that imprisoning his client would delay Murphy’s medical attention and threaten his life. Murphy will be resentenced when he is healthier.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrice D. Koenig said Thursday that Murphy should prepare to go to prison.

“I would expect the defendant be remanded (in custody) in one month if his condition improves as the doctor expects,” she said.

Campbell scheduled further proceedings for Oct. 19.

Murphy, who originally was charged with 18 felony counts of child molestation, pleaded guilty to six counts of having unlawful sex with children.