Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore allegedly had a pattern of violence against the staff member with whom he had an “inappropriate relationship,” which led to his termination.
After police met the staff member’s lawyer, Heidi Sharp, at the accuser’s apartment on Wednesday, December 10 — when Moore, 39, allegedly broke in and threatened the staffer — Sharp “advised that Moore had a long history of domestic violence against [the staff member], and that he was very dangerous,” according to court documents obtained by the Detroit Free Press.
The staff member claimed she was packing up to leave town after cooperating with the University of Michigan’s investigation into her relationship with Moore, which had allegedly been going on for years.
“[The staff member] advised that she was carrying her belongings downstairs to leave, and while inside of her apartment she heard footsteps outside,” the records state. “[She] indicated that she ran towards the door to secure it, but before she could, Mr. Moore swung the door open and barged into her apartment with tears in his eyes.”
Once inside the woman’s apartment, Moore allegedly grabbed butter knives and threatened to harm himself.
“[The staff member] indicated that she was approximately 5 feet from the door when he made entry,” the court records explained. “She advised that she began backing up and as he was approaching her. [She] advised that Moore grabbed two knives out of her drawer and pointed them at her, ‘You ruined my life. You ruined my life.’”
Moore allegedly backed her “towards the living room” while holding the knives. Once the woman successfully got her attorney on the phone, Moore allegedly “backed up and turned the knives on himself, pointing them at his neck, saying that he was going to kill himself and that she was going to watch.”
The ex football coach left the apartment shortly after, eventually being taken into custody by authorities at a nearby church.
Moore was charged with one count of third-degree felony home invasion, one count misdemeanor stalking related to a domestic relationship and one count misdemeanor breaking and entering on Friday, December 12.
According to the documents, Moore “admitted to removing the knives and stated that he had threatened to kill himself,” but denied physically assaulting the staff member or threatening her with any weapons.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit explained the charges against Moore in a statement to the Free Press on Saturday, December 13.
“The evidence that is available at this time indicates that Mr. Moore had an intent to terrorize and harass the victim — which is the basis for the stalking charge,” Savit said. “Given that his statements were those of self-harm, however, there was not sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, an intent to assault or batter the victim.”
Savit added, “As indicated in our release [Friday] announcing charges against Mr. Moore, this matter remains under active investigation and, as with any case, we may add or amend charges as new evidence comes in.”
Moore was fired as head coach at the University of Michigan on December 10, after the relationship between Moore and the staff member was uncovered.
He was released on $25,000 bond and ordered to wear a GPS tracking device at his arraignment hearing on December 12, in addition to dropping all contact with the staff member.
Moore is due back in court on January 22.
