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Former Michigan Coach Sherrone Moore Fights Charges, Claims Innocence
Former University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore is contesting charges stemming from an incident with a female staff member, with his legal team arguing for the dismissal of his case during a court appearance Thursday.
“Sherrone Moore is innocent of these charges,” declared Moore’s attorney, Ellen Michaels, following a probable cause conference at the Washtenaw County courthouse. “Today, on behalf of Mr. Moore, we filed a motion to quash the arrest warrant and dismiss the complaint.”
Michaels alleged that Moore’s arrest warrant was “based on false and misleading statements presented as fact” and expressed confidence that “the truth will come out in court under oath where it belongs.” She requested privacy for Moore and his family during the legal proceedings.
The 39-year-old former coach appeared in court alongside his wife, Kelli Moore, who was dressed in black and maintained a stoic expression throughout the proceedings. The couple did not address reporters’ questions as they left the courthouse and departed in a black SUV.
During Thursday’s hearing, Moore’s defense team requested an additional 30 days of discovery to obtain phone records and Title IX documents. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding.
“There were statements made and things done earlier that day made by the complaining witness that will be important to this investigation because credibility will always be an issue,” Michaels stated in court, suggesting the defense intends to challenge the accuser’s account.
Prosecutors have until February 2 to respond to the defense motion to quash the arrest warrant. The court has scheduled a hearing on February 17 regarding discovery materials requested by the defense, with a probable cause conference now set for March 19.
The legal troubles stem from Moore’s December 10 firing as Michigan’s head coach following a university investigation that uncovered an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a female member of the football staff. According to court records, hours after his termination, Moore allegedly forced his way into the woman’s apartment and threatened her.
The court documents state the staff member “was carrying her belongings downstairs to leave, and while inside of her apartment she heard footsteps outside.” She reportedly “ran towards the door to secure it, but before she could, Mr. Moore swung the door open and barged into her apartment with tears in his eyes.”
The records further allege that as the woman backed away, Moore “grabbed two knives out of her drawer and pointed them at her, saying, ‘You ruined my life. You ruined my life.'”
Moore faces serious legal consequences, having been charged on December 12 with one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one misdemeanor count of stalking related to a domestic relationship, and one misdemeanor count of breaking and entering. He was released on a $25,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS tracking device, which was visible during his court appearance.
The case has sent shockwaves through the college football community, especially coming on the heels of Michigan’s national championship season. Moore had been promoted to head coach after serving as offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, who departed for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a former Michigan player recently claimed that Moore’s relationship with the staff member had been used as “blackmail” by some players seeking playing time, though these allegations have not been verified in court.
Moore has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. The university has since hired Sherrone Moore’s replacement, former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, to lead the football program.
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18 Comments
This is a complex situation with competing claims. While the defense’s assertions are intriguing, the prosecutors must have felt they had a strong enough case to bring charges initially. I’ll be following this closely to see how it develops.
Absolutely. It’s important not to rush to judgment until all the facts are presented and evaluated in court. An open and transparent legal process is key to reaching a just resolution.
Dismissing the arrest warrant and complaint altogether is a strong legal strategy. However, the prosecutors must have felt they had sufficient grounds to bring charges in the first place. This will be an interesting case to follow.
You make a fair point. The justice system will need to carefully weigh the evidence from both sides before reaching a conclusion. I’m curious to see how it all unfolds.
The allegations against the former coach are certainly serious, but it’s good to see the defense team advocating forcefully for his innocence. Hopefully the truth will emerge through the legal process.
Agreed. Given the high-profile nature of this case, a thorough and impartial investigation is crucial to ensure a fair outcome, regardless of which side the evidence ultimately supports.
The defense team’s claims of false and misleading information in the arrest warrant are certainly intriguing. If proven true, it could significantly undermine the prosecution’s case. However, we’ll need to wait for the court proceedings to unfold further before drawing any conclusions.
Absolutely. It’s important to reserve judgment until all the evidence has been presented and thoroughly examined. A fair and impartial legal process is crucial in a case like this, where the stakes are so high for all involved.
This is a complex and high-stakes case, with the defense team making some bold claims. While the attorney’s assertions are certainly noteworthy, the prosecutors must have felt they had sufficient grounds to bring charges in the first place. I’m eager to see how the legal process unfolds and the truth comes to light.
Agreed. It’s a delicate balance, with both sides presenting their respective cases. The court will need to carefully weigh all the evidence and testimony before reaching a conclusion. I’m hopeful that the truth will prevail, regardless of which way the case ultimately goes.
Interesting development in this case. Curious to see how the defense’s claims of false and misleading information play out in court. The truth will come out, as the attorney said.
I agree, it’s important the facts are thoroughly examined. Denying the charges outright is a bold move, so I’m eager to learn more as this unfolds.
The coach’s attorney seems confident the evidence will exonerate their client. Maintaining privacy for the Moore family during this legal process is understandable, given the sensitive nature of the allegations.
Absolutely, high-profile cases like this can be very stressful for the individuals involved. Allowing them space to focus on their defense is sensible.
The attorney’s claims of false and misleading information in the arrest warrant are certainly concerning. If true, it could undermine the entire case against the former coach. However, we’ll need to wait for the legal proceedings to unfold further.
Precisely. Dismissing the charges outright would be a significant outcome, but the court will need to carefully examine the evidence from both sides before making that determination. I’m interested to see how this plays out.
It’s good to see the defense team taking such a strong stance in defending their client’s innocence. Requesting privacy for the Moore family is also understandable, given the public nature of the case. I’ll be following this closely to see how the legal process unfolds.
Agreed. High-profile cases like this can be very stressful for the individuals involved, so allowing them space to focus on their legal strategy is a reasonable approach. I’m curious to see what additional information emerges as this case progresses.