DENTON, TEX., JAN. 22 -- Veteran Dallas Cowboys kicker Rafael Septien was indicted today on charges of aggravated sexual assault. He is accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl, authorities said.
The indictment returned by a Denton County grand jury alleges that the child was molested Dec. 28, said District Attorney Jerry Cobb.
If convicted, Septien could be sentenced to up to life imprisonment and fined $2,000, Cobb said.
Septien surrendered at the Denton County Sheriff's Office at about 5 p.m. CST. He was booked and released after his attorneys posted bond, said Capt. Jim Neal.
"We are planning on entering a plea of not guilty, because he is not guilty of these charges," said Septien's attorney, Jay Ethington.
Police from The Colony, a suburb in Denton County where Septien lives, brought the case to the district attorney's office last week. The victim also was a resident of The Colony, authorities said. Cobb said he declined to issue an arrest warrant until the grand jurors heard the case.
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"We now have investigated the case and feel confident about it," he said.
The victim was a friend of the daughter of Septien's roommate, Cobb said. "She was a friend of this little girl who was over at this house."
His bond, originally set at $50,000, was reduced to $10,000 after a hearing at which Septien did not appear.
Cowboys President Tex Schramm said, "Obviously this type of charge is offensive to us. But we also believe that every man is entitled to his day in court, so we'll wait."
"It's kind of hard to comment on something the grand jury has said," said Cowboys Coach Tom Landry. "I feel bad for Rafael, but there's really nothing I can comment on."
Septien, 33, joined the Cowboys in 1978 after he attended Southwest Louisiana.
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