Ann Arbor, MI → A Washtenaw County judge has ordered an evidentiary hearing in the criminal case against former University of Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore after raising serious concerns about omissions in the arrest warrant used to charge him.
RELATED: Sherrone Moore Fired as Michigan Head Coach After University Probe
During a motion hearing Tuesday, Judge Cedric Simpson said key context may have been left out when investigators sought the warrant, particularly the workplace relationship between Moore and the complainant. The defense argued that the woman was Moore’s executive assistant and that some of the communications cited in the warrant occurred during business hours and could have been work-related.
Moore’s attorney, Ellen Michaels, told the court that the detective did not inform the magistrate that Moore was the complainant’s supervisor at the time of several contacts in early December. She argued that this omission may have led to a one-sided portrayal of events, making normal work communication appear as harassment. Michaels also challenged statements included in the warrant that suggested Moore had a long history of domestic violence, saying those claims were unsupported by police reports or prior statements.
Judge Simpson repeatedly questioned why the employment relationship was not clearly presented when the warrant was requested. He described the omission as “misleading” and said he was concerned the magistrate may not have been given a full picture before determining probable cause.
“I’m very worried about the omission,” Simpson said, adding that the context of the relationship could have significantly affected how the communications were interpreted. He went further, suggesting the way the information was framed may have been intentional and called it a “glaring omission.”
RELATED: Court Testimony Alleges ‘Long History of Domestic Violence’ by Sherrone Moore
Prosecutors argued the case still stands regardless of that context. They pointed to allegations that after Moore was fired on Dec. 10, he went to the woman’s apartment, forced his way inside, grabbed kitchen items including butter knives and scissors, and threatened to harm himself. The prosecution said the woman felt terrorized and noted that Moore continued calling and texting her after leaving.
Even if earlier calls could be explained as work-related, prosecutors said the alleged conduct that occurred after the employment relationship ended supports the stalking charge on its own.
Moore was arrested Dec. 10 following a 911 call reporting an assault at a Pittsfield Township apartment. He is charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. Authorities say he was later placed in protective custody for mental health evaluation.
At his arraignment, prosecutors said Moore and the staff member had been involved in an intimate relationship for years and that she ended it days before the alleged incident. Moore was released on a $25,000 bond and is required to wear a GPS tether, undergo mental health treatment, and have no contact with the complainant.
The evidentiary hearing, scheduled for March 2, will examine what information investigators had when they sought the arrest warrant and whether key facts were knowingly or recklessly left out. Depending on the outcome, the defense could seek dismissal of the charges or suppression of evidence obtained after the arrest.
Discuss this on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17i63dD1cN/