ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore has been sentenced to 18 months of probation following an incident involving his executive assistant shortly after he was fired for an inappropriate relationship with her. On December 10, 2023, Moore was dismissed from his position after two seasons, during which he took over coaching responsibilities from Jim Harbaugh, who moved on to the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.
Moore initially faced serious charges, including felony home invasion, stalking, and illegal entry. However, after a plea deal, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device. Judge J. Cedric Simpson decided against sentencing him to jail time, stating that incarceration was not warranted. He noted that Moore's actions caused fear and trauma for the victim, Paige Shiver, explaining that Moore had no right to transfer his pain onto her.
The incident reportedly occurred when Moore confronted Shiver in her apartment after she ended their affair and reported it to university officials. During this confrontation, he threatened to harm himself with kitchen knives and scissors. Following this, authorities were called, and Moore was arrested without incident in a parking lot away from Shiver's residence. Although he faced the possibility of six months in custody, Judge Simpson took into account the support from Moore’s wife, Kelli, when issuing the probation sentence.
In court, Judge Simpson expressed that Kelli Moore's support demonstrated a remarkable strength, especially noting a letter she had written in support of her husband. He acknowledged her calm demeanor when she contacted the police during the distressing situation following Moore's firing. Simpson highlighted the irony that the person who Moore ultimately betrayed—his wife—was also the one helping him avoid harsher penalties.
Shiver, who did not attend the hearing, released a statement expressing her feelings about the court's decision, emphasizing that it does not adequately reflect the harm she endured during the incident. She described the severity of the confrontation, stating that she felt threatened for her life when Moore had shown up at her apartment in a distressed state.
Moore, now 40 years old, thanked his wife during the proceedings but did not address Shiver. His defense attorney, Ellen Michaels, stated that Moore had sought counseling and was focusing on rebuilding his family life. The judge's decision to go with probation instead of jail time was influenced by multiple factors, including further developments in the case and the previous behavior of law enforcement during the investigation.
The plea deal reached followed an examination of how the evidence was collected by the police, as Megan aimed to challenge the procedures used in Moore's arrest. After the court proceedings, Moore was seen embracing his wife and expressing gratitude for the resolution of the matter. His attorney indicated that he and Kelli Moore are looking to move forward with their family after this tumultuous chapter.
