RICHMONDVILLE Former coach charged with sexual abuse BY R.J. KELLY Gazette Reporter
Loudonville resident Gregory Morra has been charged with misdemeanor sexual abuse and forcible touching in connection with allegations that he improperly touched two underage girls on a Cobleskill-Richmondville High School basketball team while coaching them last fall. The latest charges followed Morra’s rejection of a plea deal to lesser charges, Schoharie County District Attorney James Sacket said Wednesday. The new charges, which involve only one of the two alleged victims, are in addition to two January charges of endangering the welfare of a child under age 17. “These are charges that could have been filed at that time,” based on the initial state police investigation, Sacket said. The initial two misdemeanor counts relating to both girls were brought against Morra by state police on Jan. 12. Morra, 50, was arraigned on the additional charges before Richmondville Town Justice Herbert Needleman last Thursday, according to Sacket. In April, Sacket said one of the two alleged victims had agreed to a proposal to reduce one of the endangering charges to second-degree harassment if Morra would plead guilty to that, the other endangering charge and other conditions. Morra’s lawyer, E. Stewart Jones, said then that he expected to reject the offer Sacket had discussed with Morra’s previous attorney, Joseph McCoy. “We felt we had an agreement that he would plead [to that]” with Morra’s previous lawyer, Sacket said Wednesday. Jones, a prominent Albany defense attorney, could not be reached for comment. Morra is listed in state records as a dentist practicing in Waterford who has been licensed for 25 years. Sacket said Morra is due back in Richmondville Court at 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 for further proceedings. The case is expected to continue to a trial in town court, Sacket said. State police Investigator George Bird said Wednesday that the investigation is continuing. “There are additional leads that will be followed up,” Bird said, “and there are additional interviews that will be conducted.” The January charges prompted a grand jury investigation in February and March concerning how school administrators and district athletics supervisors handled the initial allegations last fall. About 15 witnesses testified before the grand jury. Bird was initially critical of the way school officials reacted to the complaints, saying that state police were not contacted by school offi - cials until at least one of the alleged victims called troopers. At the time, school attorney Michael West said Morra, who was an unpaid volunteer coach, resigned the position and officials believed that nothing criminal had occurred. No school officials or others were charged by the grand jury. The grand jury’s report, which is believed to contain recommendations on better handling of such allegations, remains sealed for review by Schoharie County Judge George R. Bartlett III and evaluation of its potential effect on the pending criminal case against Morra. “The actions of the school [district] and the school officials have been reviewed by the grand jury, and I respect and accept their determination,” Bird said Wednesday.
You know, I think that people have finally figured out that high school coaches are the new Catholic Priests, especially if you can't find a priest around to accuse. Have we got any actual convictions lately? Or is it all charges and allegations?
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
Trial ordered for ex-coach accused of improper touching Thursday, March 13, 2008 By R. J. Kelly (Contact) Gazette Reporter
RICHMONDVILLE — Town Justice Herbert Needleman directed attorneys today to plan for a trial of former volunteer Cobleskill-Richmondville High School basketball coach Gregory Morra, who is accused of improperly touching two girls more than a year ago. Needleman also partially rejected efforts to dismiss the misdemeanor charges against Morra, a Loudonville dentist. While letting stand two charges of endangering the welfare of a child and one charge of third-degree sexual abuse, Needleman granted Morra’s attorney, George E. LaMarche III, the chance to resubmit a motion requesting dismissal of the sexual abuse charge. Needleman agreed to dismiss a charge of forcible touching against Morra earlier this week, the judge said today. Morra sat in court during the mostly procedural discussions, but made no public comments. He did not respond to a reporter’s request for comment, but LaMarche said Morra continues to deny that he did anything wrong. “He maintains his innocence and expects to be vindicated,” said LaMarche, a member of the E. Stewart Jones law firm in Troy. LaMarche requested two separate jury trials. That was opposed by Schoharie County District Attorney James Sacket. Needleman set March 21 to receive the defense motions, followed by March 28 for the district attorney’s response, and April 11 for the court’s response or ruling. No court appearances are expected for those procedural actions. In the meantime, Needleman directed the attorneys to coordinate on a date for the trial or trials to begin. Needleman set a tentative trial date for May 5 and May 6, but LaMarche said his firm is involved in unrelated trials that might require rescheduling. Because of the expected room needed for a jury trial, Needleman said he had received permission to use the Richmondville Volunteer Emergency Squad building, instead of his small courtroom. “It’s absolutely not the typical justice court procedure,” Needleman said. LaMarche requested that the trial be held in the Schoharie County Courthouse in Schoharie, because of its larger space, central location and facilities for jurors and attorneys. Needleman said he was willing to look into the possibility, but Sacket noted that scheduling use of the busy county court could pose logistical problems. Sacket requested the trial remain in Richmondville, the jurisdiction where the alleged incidents, at the high school near Warnerville, took place. Needleman made no decision on the trial location, pending further information from attorneys and court officials. The case has been delayed for months by various procedural court actions and legal motions since Morra was initially charged by state police in January 2007 with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child under age 17. In August, Sacket filed the additional sexual abuse and forcible touching charges related to one of the two alleged victims. That followed Morra’s rejection of a prosecution offer to reduce one of the endangering charges to second-degree harassment, if Morra would plead guilty to that, the other endangering charge and other conditions. Jones had also unsuccessfully sought to have a county grand jury hear the charges. That could have moved the case to Schoharie County Court. The January charges against Morra also prompted a county grand jury investigation last winter concerning the handling of the initial complaints by Cobleskill-Richmondville school administrators and sports officials in fall 2006. Morra resigned the unpaid part-time coaching post after the initial allegations, but state police contended the school did not report the incidents until after one of the victims contacted troopers. School officials have said they believed the allegations were handled properly. No charges against any school officials or staff were brought by the grand jury, but a report released last summer listed a series of recommendations to improve school response to such allegations.
RICHMONDVILLE Trial set to start for former girls’ basketball coach Volunteer assistant accused of endangering, sexual abuse BY R.J. KELLY Gazette Reporter
About two years after allegedly improperly touching two Cobleskill-Richmondville High School girls on a basketball team he coached, Loudonville dentist Gregory Morra is scheduled to go on trial today. Morra, 52, faces two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and one charge of third-degree sexual abuse. He has denied any wrongdoing. Morra resigned the unpaid volunteer coach’s position shortly after the allegations surfaced in fall 2006. Town Justice Herbert Needleman said jury selection is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Richmondville Volunteer Emergency Squad building on state Route 7 just east of the village. Schoharie County District Attorney James Sacket could not be reached Friday, but he said Wednesday he’s ready for trial. Several witnesses are expected to be called by attorneys, including at least one of the alleged victims, according to Sacket. “I’ve been ready for a year and half,” Sacket said last month. Morra’s attorney, Albany lawyer E. Stewart Jones, did not return repeated calls last week. The trial was moved there from the small town court building to allow more space for jurors, witnesses and spectators. Depending on how long it takes for attorneys to agree on six jurors and one alternate, testimony could begin today and continue on Tuesday and Thursday, as needed, Needleman said. Originally scheduled for May, the trial has been delayed for months by various procedural court actions and legal motions since Morra was initially charged by state police in January 2007 with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child under age 17. In August, 2007, Sacket filed the additional sexual abuse and forcible touching charges related to one of the two alleged victims. That followed Morra’s rejection of a prosecution offer to reduce one of the endangering charges to second-degree harassment, if Morra would plead guilty to that, the other endangering charge and other conditions. Morra’s attorney, E. Stewart Jones, had unsuccessfully sought to have a county grand jury hear the charges. That could have moved the case to Schoharie County Court. The original charges against Morra sparked a county grand jury investigation concerning how Cobleskill-Richmondville school athletic department and central district administrators handled the initial allegations in 2006. Morra resigned the unpaid parttime coaching post after the initial allegations, but state police contended the school did not report the incidents until after one of the victims contacted the troopers. School officials have said they believed the allegations were handled properly. No charges against any school officials or staff were brought by the grand jury, but a March 2007 report listed a series of recommendations to improve school response to such allegations.
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