Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore sentenced 18 months probation after no contest plea

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - Former University of Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore was sentenced to 18 months probation  Tuesday after an arrest following his firing late last year.

The backstory:

He must have no contact with the former staffer which he had an affair with, Paige Shiver, directly or indirectly, and must continue counseling. 

Simpson said after reviewing the case, "the right thing happened" with the criminal charges he pled to, "no more, no less." He described elements of the case and agreed that the felony stalking charge was dropped. 

"You had no right to do what you did. It was a traumatic experience for her and you," he said. "You had no right to spread your pain to her."

Simpson credited Kelli Moore for her strength and letters to the court for influencing his decision on the sentence.

"As I was going through this sentencing there is irony because the one who is saving you from the full wrath of this court is from the one you betrayed. I don't know where your wife Kelli gets her strength."

Moore pleaded no contest to malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing after authorities say he broke into his ex-girlfriend's home after his firing. Both charges are misdemeanors. 

The judge cautioned Moore from violating his probation, giving a "direct warning" to him about it. 

"All bets are off the table," he said. "I don't like sending people to jail but I would have no problem doing it."

Simpson said he wished the former staffer, Paige Shiver, would have addressed the court. 

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Moore spoke briefly in a statement before the sentencing.

"First of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for grace and guidance at this difficult time," he said. "I want to thank my beautiful wife Kelli, for her support, her strength in standing my me.  I am grateful to my attorney Ellen Michaels for her guidance.

"I've taken this process very seriously and I am ready to proceed."

The other side:

Shiver released a statement blasting the decision, saying it did not take into account the danger she felt she was in.

"The University of Michigan gave this man limitless power and emboldened him to do whatever he wanted for years with no accountability. December 10th was the most terrifying day of my life. The criminal acts he committed were extremely frightening and violent. He broke into my apartment, crying, yelling, enraged, and came at me with knives. I was threatened, and I feared for my life. Today's sentence does not reflect the harm done
to me or the objective evidence in this case."

Judge Simpson said in court that he wished she would have given a victim impact statement so that Moore would be held accountable.

Simpson said that just because Moore was receiving probation, it should not be seen as an example of the court going easy on the former coach. 

Shiver's attorney Andrew Strouth also sent out a reaction statement on the case saying that legal action would be pursued against the school.

"Today's sentence does not reflect the seriousness of Moore's unlawful entry and aggressive attack on Ms. Shiver on December 10th. Following his termination from the University, this deranged 6 foot 4, 285-pound man broke into her apartment and physically threaded her with knives. For several years, the University of Michigan's leadership looked the other way and allowed Ms. Shiver to be exploited and abused by Moore. The University enabled Moore and others in positions of authority within the Athletic Department, fostered the ongoing and escalating abuse, and advanced a culture that cared not about the hostile environment but instead was focused only on winning football games."

Moore's defense attorney said he was an only child of immigrant parents who came to America for a better life and didn't always fit in. She said Moore has re-centered his life around his family. 

The prosecutor opened with her own statement and asked the judge to remember the life of the former staffer he had an affair with, who later was confronted by Moore leading to the allegations.

"I don't have much to say, except to underscore that we arrived here because these charges are ultimately what was supported by both the facts and the law," said the prosecutor. "There was a young woman that was deeply impacted by the defendant's choices from December 10th of last year. I just want to make sure that we state that for the record."

The backstory:

Moore, 39, was fired by athletic director Warde Manuel in December after the school said it found that he had engaged in "an inappropriate relationship with a staff member." He was arrested later that day after allegedly breaking into that staffer's apartment and threatening to kill himself in front of her.

According to the prosecution during his arraignment, Moore, who is married, allegedly had an affair for years with a staff member. When that person broke off the relationship on Dec. 8, Moore allegedly texted and called her repeatedly, leading to her reporting what happened to the university.

Once Moore learned of his termination, he allegedly went to her Pittsfield Township apartment, broke in, grabbed several butter knives and kitchen scissors before threatening to harm himself.

According to prosecutor Kati Rezmierski, he allegedly told his ex-girlfriend, "I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands."

When she told him she was going to call the police, he left.

Moore was arraigned a few days later and charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. He was released from the Washtenaw County Jail after posting a $25,000 bond.

Mason said he does not see Moore going to jail and that he foresees the mental health component being emphasized.

"The court is going to have the ability to read the evaluation, he could order counseling, he could order community service," he said. "I think he's going to get counseling, he's going to get a deferred sentence, and very likely not going to do any incarceration."

Moore’s attorney claims those communications were work-related because they took place during work hours and the assistant worked for Moore.

"It's clearly and unequivocally that the relationship between the parties in a stalking allegation matters," Michaels previously said in court. "It's not stalking if communication has a legitimate purpose."

However, the prosecution says the ex-girlfriend and assistant presented sufficient evidence for the charges to stick, including what they call direct and credible details to police allowing for probable cause to be established and for an arrest warrant to be issued. 

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