Final charges have been withdrawn against Greg Morra, the Cobleskill-Richmondville volunteer assistant girls’ basketball coach who was accused of sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Now Mr. Morra may sue Schoharie County District Attorney Jim Sacket.
Maureen Keegan, Mr. Morra’s attorney, filed a notice of claim, a preliminary step to a lawsuit, in January.
Mr. Morra was accused of sex abuse, among other charges, stemming from a girls’ basketball practice in November, 2006. A Richmondville town jury acquitted him of the sex-abuse charge last October, and Mr. Sacket said he withdrew endangering and harassment charges in December.
“It was based on a number of factors––consulting with the victim, the stress of a trial,” Mr. Sacket said about withdrawing the charges. “We felt it was best to let the matter rest.”
Filed January 15, the notice of claim cites infliction of “monetary damage; emotional distress; anxiety; loss of reputation; embarrassment; humiliation; loss of sleep; inability to function the same capacity; loss of relationships with peers and family; anger. . .” among others.
Such damages occurred, the notice of claim alleges “from the malicious and false prosecution of the claimant,. . .”
And the notice further states that “The County of Schoharie, its office or agents. . .carelessly, negligently and reckless commenced and continued a criminal proceeding against the claimant, when respondents know or should have known that there was no probable cause for the proceeding. . .”
Mr. Sacket forwarded the claim to County Attorney Mike West, who’s turned it over the county’s insurance carrier.
Mr. West, however, said a district attorney has “absolute immunity,” assuming he didn’t overstep his bounds.
“There was cause to believe a crime had been committed. The victims said so,” Mr. West said. “Jim thought he had a case and went forward with it.
“Jim did his job. He didn’t step outside what he was supposed to do.”
The notice of claim preserves the right of filing a lawsuit, Mr. West said.
Ms. Keegan did not return or respond to calls to her Kingston office.