Grand jury will review sex-abuse charges against Cadillac Ranch patriarch

A county grand jury next week will hear the 11 sex-related charges against Amarillo millionaire Stanley Marsh 3, reported the Amarillo Globe-News. Marsh is best-known as patriarch of the Cadillac Ranch art installation off Route 66 near Amarillo.

Lubbock County District Attorney Matt Powell said Friday he plans to take six counts of sexual assault and five counts of sexual performance by a child before a Potter County panel, The Associated Press said.

In December, Powell filed 11 criminal charges against Marsh 3, alleging the Amarillo millionaire performed oral sex on a teenage boy in 2010 and hired another teen to masturbate for him.

Marsh 3, 75, is charged with six counts of child sexual abuse and five counts of sexual performance by a child, second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 on each count.

The story mentioned Marsh’s mid-February settlement with 10 alleged sexual-abuse victims. An attorney for the plaintiffs stated at the time that Marsh no longer was owner of Cadillac Ranch, but did not elaborate. That leads one to wonder whether Cadillac Ranch’s ownership has been transferred to another family member or a trust.

At one point, an attorney of one of the accusers and a few other locals debated whether to tear down Cadillac Ranch if Marsh were found guilty of the charges. However, it appears that sentiment has cooled off in recent weeks.

Marsh didn’t create Cadillac Ranch in 1974, but owns the land where it sits.  Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels of the Ant Farm art group were the ones who came up with the concept.

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