Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore pleads no contest to 2 misdemeanors, felony dropped

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore appeared in court Friday for a review of evidence after he was arrested and charged for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home.

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Moore's defense team agreed to a plea deal for two new misdemeanors in exchange for the dismissal of three other charges including a felony.

Moore has pleaded no contest to two new counts including malicious use of a telecommunications device in a domestic relationship, and to a charge of trespass, both misdemeanors.

Malicious use of a telecommunications device carries a jail sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000. Trespass carries a sentence of up to 30 days and a fine of up to $250.

He will be sentenced on April 14th. The judge declined to approve the removal of his GPS tether.

"The basis for the no contest plea is civil liability - civil litigation," said his defense attorney Ellen Michaels.

No contest pleas are treated by the court the same as a guilty plea when it comes to sentencing. 

"From the beginning, we maintained that the felony stalking charges against Mr. Moore were not supported by facts and law," Michaels said after the hearing. "After the court granted a Franks hearing and the detective's affidavit was examined, those charges have been dismissed. 

"Dismissal of those charges validates the concerns we raised about the investigation from the very beginning. Mr. Moore is pleased to put this behind him and move forward."

Attorney Gerry Mason said he doesn't think that Moore will be going to prison, but that the reputational damage remains.

"He's already lost millions of dollars," Mason said. "We talked about that this is a case that was ripe for settlement. Some kind of misdemeanor and maybe even a deferred sentence, which is what he is seeking. Something that allows him to seek and gain meaningful employment - it looks like that's exactly how this matter unfolded."

Mason elaborated further on what helped lead to the no contest agreement.

"(There is) a mental health referral on the part of Sherrone Moore, some ongoing discovery and evidentiary issues, and finally the actual challenge to the warrant. The court expressed concern over certain omissions, in the warrant, that kind of squeezed (them) into a position with this settlement today."

Ann Arbor judge Cedric Simpson ordered the hearing to take a deeper look at evidence after noting that Moore's relationship with the former girlfriend, who worked for the Michigan football program, was omitted by the prosecution during a previous hearing.

Mason said he understood why the GPS tether will remain on for Moore, in Judge Cedric Simpson's opinion.

"There is a distinction there, the defense attorney says ‘My client has just been proven not guilty of stalking,’ no not necessarily," he said. "They just reached a compromise after speaking with the complaining witness, they came up with a plea resolution that didn't involve stalking and didn't involve breaking and entering.

"The court still has concerns because of the inflammatory nature of the case and how the case started. Frankly that is in Sherrone Moore's interest."

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. 

The other side:

A statement was released on behalf of Paige Shiver, who was involved in a relationship with Moore.

Shiver's statement said she wants the University of Michigan take accountability and conduct an investigation.

"Today's no-contest plea in the criminal trespassing case involving disgraced former University of Michigan head football coach Sheronne Moore represents a critical moment of acknowledgment and accountability following a frightening and deeply disturbing incident. 

"Not surprisingly, Sheronne Moore's no-contest plea was entered a mere days following press reports alleging his failure to report sexual assault allegations against former Michigan assistant coach LaTroy Lewis.

"With the resolution of Mr. Moore's criminal legal proceedings today, all eyes are now squarely focused on the University of Michigan, Interim President Domenico Grasso, President-Elect Kent Syverud, General Counsel Tim Lynch, and the Board of Regents to see whether they take the swift and decisive action needed to make amends for the University's painful missteps and to restore a genuine sense of trust and respect among its employees, students, and alums.

"Our client was forced to endure years of manipulation, harassment, and exploitation by a man who held enormous power over her professional life as the head football coach of one of the nation's most prominent college football programs. 

"The power imbalance between a powerful head coach and a subordinate employee created an environment where our client felt pressured, intimidated, and unable to escape conduct that should never occur in any workplace-let alone at a public university.

"After Sheronne Moore was fired, his conduct escalated into an alarming and traumatic episode that led to the criminal charges resolved today. He entered our client's apartment without permission while behaving in an aggressive and intimidating manner while holding knives and a pair of scissors-an event that left our client fearful for her safety and deeply traumatized.

"Today's plea by Sheronne Moore confirms the seriousness of that criminal misconduct. But this case is about far more than one terrifying incident. It raises urgent and troubling questions about how a powerful figure within a major university athletic program was able to engage in years of inappropriate conduct toward a subordinate without meaningful intervention or oversight.

"Our client believes strongly that she may not be the only person who experienced inappropriate, coercive, or predatory behavior from this individual.

"Institutions entrusted with the education and safety of students and employees have a fundamental duty to ensure that power is never used to exploit or silence others. A thorough and transparent investigation into this conduct-and any related institutional failures-must occur. 

"Our client came forward at tremendous personal cost because she believes that silence allows abuse of power to continue. Her hope is that by speaking out, others who may have been intimidated into remaining quiet will find the strength to share their experiences as well.

"Accountability does not end with a single criminal case. It requires truth, transparency, and a commitment to ensuring that no one in a position of authority is ever permitted to abuse their power again. Our client is continuing the difficult process of healing. She remains grateful for the support she has received and hopes that her decision to come forward will help protect others in the future."

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