Sherrone Moore is officially putting his felony criminal case behind him.
The former University of Michigan head football coach appeared in court Friday to plead no contest to two misdemeanors, trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device. The deal effectively wipes out the more serious charges he was facing, including felony home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering.
The 40-year-old’s legal troubles began just as his career at Michigan was imploding. Fired on December 10, Moore was accused of an “inappropriate relationship” with an executive assistant. According to authorities, the woman ended the affair shortly before he was dismissed. Prosecutors alleged that Moore later showed up at her apartment, blamed her for losing his job, and even threatened to harm himself with butter knives.
The plea agreement was struck the same day a judge was supposed to hear a challenge to Moore’s initial arrest. By taking the deal, Moore avoids a trial on the felony counts. His lawyer, Ellen Michaels, stood by him and his wife outside the courtroom, claiming the original investigation was botched from the start.
“All the charges against Mr. Moore were not supported by facts and law,” Michaels said. “The 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.”
When asked about the stalking allegations specifically, Michaels argued that the constant messaging was related to team business, stating, “It’s not stalking if the communication has a legitimate purpose.” Moore himself didn’t have much to say to the cameras, only offering a brief, “No, I’m good. Appreciate it,” as he walked away.
Moore took over the Wolverines after Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL following a national title win. However, his time at the helm lasted only two seasons. Because the school fired him “for cause” due to his relationship with a staffer, they aren’t required to pay out the rest of his $5.5 million a year contract.
While the felonies are gone, Moore still faces a sentencing hearing on April 14. The misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of about seven months in jail, though the plea deal makes it much less likely he will see significant time behind bars.
