Raleigh — A former North Carolina State University athletics medical director faces a sweeping set of criminal charges after a Wake County grand jury indicted him on allegations that he engaged in sexual contact while posing as a medical professional.
Indictments allege long pattern of misconduct
Robert Murphy Jr., who served as NC State’s director of sports medicine from January 2012 until his resignation in June 2022, was charged on multiple counts that prosecutors say involve incidents occurring between October 2016 and September 2021. The unsealed indictments list allegations tied to 14 separate cases and include nine felony counts and 23 misdemeanor counts.
According to court documents made public Thursday evening, nine of the counts are felony allegations that Murphy willfully committed sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment. The remaining 23 counts are misdemeanor sexual battery charges. The indictments were handed up on Sept. 14 and became public this week.
Arrest occurred in Florida; defendant has denied wrongdoing
Murphy was arrested Wednesday night and was being held in Marion County, Florida, according to law enforcement records. The indictment follows a civil filing in 2022 in which more than 30 former male athletes sued Murphy and the university, alleging inappropriate conduct tied to his role as athletic trainer.
Murphy was suspended from his NC State role in January 2022 and left the university that June. His legal representation has pushed back against both the civil and criminal claims.
"We are very disappointed that the Wake County District Attorney’s office would choose to prosecute based on a changing story,"
The statement, issued by Jared Hammett — who represented Murphy in earlier civil matters — and attorney Seth A. Blum, also said Murphy would welcome the chance to clear his name.
Scope and timeline
Prosecutors say the alleged offenses span nearly five years. The indictments identify multiple victims but do not publicly name them. The alleged conduct in at least one count centers on the fall of 2020 and claims that Murphy indicated sexual contact was necessary for a patient’s health during the course of treatment, a charge that falls under a North Carolina statute criminalizing sexual contact under the pretext of medical care.
| Item | Count |
|---|---|
| Felony sexual contact under pretext of treatment | 9 counts |
| Misdemeanor sexual battery | 23 counts |
| Alleged incidents | 14 cases (2016–2021) |
Background and community reaction
The allegations emerged publicly after a 2022 civil lawsuit in which more than 30 former male athletes accused Murphy of sexual misconduct while he worked in the university’s athletic department. Those claims prompted administrative action that included his suspension. The new criminal indictments elevate the matter from civil litigation to a criminal prosecution overseen by the Wake County District Attorney’s office.
The university has previously said it takes allegations of misconduct seriously; in other public statements earlier in the civil matter NC State acknowledged the lawsuit and its decision to suspend Murphy while the institution reviewed the claims.
What comes next
- Murphy remains in custody in Marion County, Florida, as local authorities coordinate with Wake County prosecutors on transfer and processing.
- The Wake County District Attorney’s Office will prepare for arraignment and potential pretrial proceedings; scheduling details will be set once jurisdictional and custody logistics are resolved.
- Victim notifications and support services are administered through local law enforcement and victim services units; additional victims could come forward as the case proceeds.
The criminal charges mark a significant development in a story that has spanned civil litigation, university personnel actions and now formal criminal allegations. As the legal process unfolds, prosecutors will be required to present evidence supporting the indictments to a court, and the defendant will have the opportunity to respond through counsel.
WE NEWS will continue to follow court filings, official statements from the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and any responses from NC State as more information becomes available.
Report filed by Latoya Simmons, State Correspondent for WE NEWS.
