MedicCook
01-12-2007, 11:29 PM
High school coach charged with inappropriately touching students
Internal school probe had found no wrongdoing
RICHMONDVILLE -- A high school assistant girls basketball coach at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School was charged today with inappropriately touching two of his players.
Gregory M. Morra, 50, of Colonial Green, Loudonville, was arrested after the school's internal investigation found no wrongdoing. But State Police now say he had the alleged contact with the players, both under 17, in November, State Police Investigator George Bird said.
Morra, a dentist who coached the team on a voluntary basis, is barred from having contact with the team members.
One of the girls notified school officials at the time of the alleged contact and Athletic Director Dale Wotherspoon and Assistant Principal Melissa Ausfeld conducted an internal investigation. They found no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing, Michael West, an attorney for the school district, said in a statement.
School officials consulted with the state Education Department and the Schoharie County Social Services department to make sure they conducted the investigation correctly, West said.
``It is not clear to the district how or why the incident has now been elevated to a criminal level,'' said West. ``At this point, it appears the student is alleging contact of a different nature than she originally reported to school officials.''
The school also notified State Police, who did their own investigation before arresting Morra on Friday. Morra was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in prison.
Morra was arraigned before Richmondville Town Justice Herbert Needleman and released on his own recognizance, officials said. He is scheduled for court again on Jan. 24.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=553330&category=ALBANY&BCCode=&newsdate=1/12/2007
Internal school probe had found no wrongdoing
RICHMONDVILLE -- A high school assistant girls basketball coach at Cobleskill-Richmondville High School was charged today with inappropriately touching two of his players.
Gregory M. Morra, 50, of Colonial Green, Loudonville, was arrested after the school's internal investigation found no wrongdoing. But State Police now say he had the alleged contact with the players, both under 17, in November, State Police Investigator George Bird said.
Morra, a dentist who coached the team on a voluntary basis, is barred from having contact with the team members.
One of the girls notified school officials at the time of the alleged contact and Athletic Director Dale Wotherspoon and Assistant Principal Melissa Ausfeld conducted an internal investigation. They found no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing, Michael West, an attorney for the school district, said in a statement.
School officials consulted with the state Education Department and the Schoharie County Social Services department to make sure they conducted the investigation correctly, West said.
``It is not clear to the district how or why the incident has now been elevated to a criminal level,'' said West. ``At this point, it appears the student is alleging contact of a different nature than she originally reported to school officials.''
The school also notified State Police, who did their own investigation before arresting Morra on Friday. Morra was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in prison.
Morra was arraigned before Richmondville Town Justice Herbert Needleman and released on his own recognizance, officials said. He is scheduled for court again on Jan. 24.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=553330&category=ALBANY&BCCode=&newsdate=1/12/2007