ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — Former Michigan football head coach Sherrone Moore was released on bond Friday after being arraigned on multiple charges, including felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and breaking and entering.
Moore spent two nights behind bars after his arrest and firing from the university on Wednesday. He appeared before a judge Friday afternoon for his arraignment at Washtenaw District Court.
Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below:
During the arraignment, prosecutors detailed their case against Moore, saying that it is their understanding that Moore and the victim had an intimate relationship for a number of years, and that the victim broke up with Moore on Monday.
Then, prosecutors say that over several days, Moore continued to make numerous phone calls and texts to the victim, and after he was fired on Wednesday, he went to her apartment and "barged his way in."
Prosecutors say he grabbed butter knives and a pair of scissors and threatened his own life, saying things like "I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to make you watch," "my blood is on your hands," and "you ruined my life."
Watch our coverage of the arraignment below:
The prosecutor's office emphasized the serious nature of the alleged actions that led to the charges.
"We consider the defendant to be a risk to public safety, a risk to this victim, and it is for those reasons that we're asking for those specific conditions," prosecutors said on Friday.
The judge set Moore's bond at $25,000 with several conditions, including GPS monitoring, no contact with the victim, and a mandatory mental health evaluation.
Related video: Michigan Athletics at a crossroads after Sherrone Moore firing, criminal charges
Moore's defense attorney Joe Simon acknowledged the unusual circumstances of the case during the hearing.
"Your honor, in a case like this, charges like this, in a normal circumstance, we'd be requesting a personal recognizance bond, and frankly expecting the court to order that. We all know this is not an ordinary circumstance," Simon said.
Criminal defense lawyer Neil Rockind, who is not involved in the case, believes Moore's high-profile status may have influenced the bond decision. He said a typical defendant would likely have received a personal bond rather than the $25,000 monetary bond.
"Do I believe that the $25,000 bond in this case, do I think that that's enough? It's a number. It's not enough money that it's gonna stop him from doing whatever he wants to do. The average Joe walking into court would have been given a personal bond. I'm telling you, they would have gotten a personal bond," Rockind said.
Related video: Questions about Michigan's athletic department after charges against Sherrone Moore
Rockind also described the case as appearing to stem from a mental health crisis rather than criminal intent.
"The whole case rings to me — it just calls out as a cry for help. What makes it so interesting is that he had everything at his disposal, and it sounds like he was just going through it when this hit the fan. It sounds like he was going through a real mental health crisis," Rockind said.
Despite the felony charge, Rockind believes Moore is unlikely to face significant jail time given his lack of prior criminal record.
"He will very likely face, he could face some jail, although I would say that's doubtful. I would say he more likely will face a period of probation. I'm going to go back to his lack of any prior record. This is an aberrant moment in his life," Rockind said.
Legal experts suggest a plea deal could be possible, potentially reducing the charges to misdemeanors and avoiding felony convictions.
Moore's next court hearing is set for Jan. 22.
—————
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
