Ex-Marshall Tucker bassist charged with sexual assault

Franklin Wilkie, former bass guitarist for The Marshall Tucker Band, is out of jail on bond following his arrest Monday on allegations he sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman while she was unconscious.

Wilkie, 59, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct on accusations he assaulted the woman in February at his home at 853 John B. White Sr. Blvd. He was released from the Spartanburg County Detention Facility the day of his arrest after posting a $5,000 bond.

The bass player was back on the stage Tuesday night, playing with the Gypsy Souls at Spartanburg's Nu-Way Restaurant & Lounge. He declined to discuss the assault case based on the advice of his attorney, he said.

Wilkie joined The Marshall Tucker Band in 1980, following the death of original bass guitarist Tommy Caldwell, and left in 1984. Today, he also plays bass in the Ricky Godfrey Band. Contacted Tuesday, Ricky Godfrey Band co-founder Bobby Simmons said he was in Myrtle Beach on a promotional trip and had not heard of the arrest.

"This is news to me," he said.

Simmons declined to comment further.

DNA led to arrest

Spartanburg police began investigating the sexual assault claims on Feb. 24, when the woman reported Wilkie had assaulted her the day before while she was intoxicated and unconscious.

The woman, an Inman resident, told police Wilkie came to her parents' house that day to tighten guitar strings for her. That evening, she and Wilkie visited Fatz Cafe off New Cut Road and a Greenville bar before returning to Wilkie's home, where the woman said she passed out.

She said she awoke the next morning to find her bra was unfastened underneath her shirt, her belt torn and a substance believed to be semen on her pants. Wilkie was not home when she awoke, but he returned shortly thereafter and later took the woman to Hops Grill and Brewery on East Blackstock Road, where she again passed out.

She was taken by ambulance to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where she reported she had been sexually assaulted. According to police reports, the woman didn't report the assault or confront Wilkie earlier because he had "a bad temper."

The Herald-Journal is not releasing the woman's name due to the nature of the allegations.

Spartanburg police Capt. Randy Hardy said officers arrested Wilkie Monday after State Law Enforcement Division agents analyzed DNA found on the woman and matched it to Wilkie.

The woman was "very adamant" she had never had sex with Wilkie in the past and was taken advantage of, he said.

"In order for it not to be a sexual assault, the victim has to consent, and in this case there was no consent," Hardy said.

SLED records show Wilkie was convicted of harassment in July 2006 in Spartanburg County. In February of this year, Spartanburg police charged him with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, public disorderly conduct, an open container violation and obtaining property by false pretenses.

It was not clear Tuesday whether all those charges remained pending.

Before joining The Marshall Tucker Band, Wilkie played with groups featuring other Marshall Tucker members, including The Rants and The Toy Factory. He also played in Garfeel Ruff, recording at least one album on Capitol Records.

Freelance writer Tad Taylor contributed to this article.