A former hand surgeon who pleaded guilty in 2002 to beating his third wife was arrested Tuesday, accused of assaulting his fourth wife.

Michael Glyn Brown, 53, was charged with assaulting Rachel Brown on Aug. 13 by twisting her arm behind her back, court records show.

Brown, free on $40,000 bail, he is to have no contact with Rachel Brown and must surrender his passport, according to court documents.

Dick DeGuerin, Brown's attorney, asked that reporters respect Brown's privacy.

"This is a private matter between two people who love each other, and they're hoping to work it out," the defense lawyer said.

DeGuerin declined to answer any other questions.

Brown is well-known to Houstonians for television commercials touting his high-profile carpal tunnel clinic, the Brown Hand Center, which also has locations in Phoenix, Dallas, Austin and Las Vegas.

In the commercial, filmed with Rachel Brown and his five children, Brown says he personally trains the surgeons working at the clinic.

"The Brown Hand Center will care for you, just as I care for my own family," he says.

An operator answering the phones at the clinic Tuesday said the office had no comment and refused to transfer calls to supervisors.

The clinic, which employs several surgeons, has remained open despite Brown's medical license being revoked after he tested positive for cocaine in 2006.

In 2002, Brown pleaded no contest to aggravated assault for beating his then-pregnant wife, Darlina Brown, with a bed post. He was sentenced to 10 years' supervised probation and fined $1,500.

He successfully completed deferred adjudication, a form of probation, which means that he does not have a conviction on his record.

However, prosecutors said, because he has been charged with a similar offense, his plea is a conviction and enhances Tuesday's charges, bumping the assault from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney Jane Waters said Brown faces a punishment ranging from probation to 10 years in prison, if convicted.

A year before he admitted guilt in the assault of Darlina Brown, a jury hearing facts of the couple's divorce awarded Darlina Brown $5.4 million for her injuries, including pain and suffering.

She has remarried and moved to Colorado, but continues to battle Brown for custody of the couple's two children, according to her husband, Gino Barone.

Although there is not a final custody order prohibiting visitation, Brown is not allowed to contact the two girls, ages 9 and 10, Barone said.

"Our heart goes out to Rachel and the kids," Barone said about Tuesday's arrest. "But Rachel's been delusional."

Barone said he hopes the arrest triggers the end of his wife's custody fight and of Brown's business.

brian.rogers@chron.com