Sherrone Moore won a round in court on Tuesday when a judge granted the former Michigan football coach an evidentiary hearing regarding the circumstances surrounding the warrant used for his arrest in December.
Washtenaw County (Mich.) Judge Cedric Simpson scheduled the hearing for March 2 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Moore was arrested on Dec. 10 and subsequently was charged with stalking, breaking and entering, and third-degree home invasion. The alleged victim was a woman who worked for Michigan’s athletic department.
The alleged incident occurred on the same day that Michigan fired Moore, stating that it found “credible evidence” the coach engaged in an inappropriate office relationship.
Moore’s lawyer, Ellen Michaels, argued that the Pittsfield Township Police Department detective in the case didn’t present all of the facts to the district court magistrate while seeking the arrest warrant on Dec. 12 — failing to disclose that the alleged victim was Moore’s boss.
While the police listed Moore’s multiple text messages and calls to the woman, they didn’t tell the magistrate of the pair’s work relationship. Michaels maintained that the communication might not be viewed as stalking given the two were working together.
Simpson said Tuesday in response, “It seems to me, if I’m the magistrate, I’m getting half the story. I’m not getting the full story. … I’m very worried about the omission.”
He added, “What is clear from this court’s perspective is that an omission in certain contexts can be more damaging, more problematic, more troublesome than what might be an intentional misrepresentation.”
Michaels said outside the court later Tuesday, “Judge Simpson got it right in this motion, and due process matters. Coach Moore maintains his innocence, and the truth will come out.”
Moore, 40, had a 16-8 record at Michigan after taking over for Jim Harbaugh, whom he served as offensive coordinator. Both he and Harbaugh were embroiled in a sign-stealing controversy from the school’s 2023 national-championship season, with Moore ultimately serving a two-game suspension.
–Field Level Media
