MANCHESTER, N.H. – A Lawrence High School basketball coach was arrested and placed on leave after he was charged with sexually assaulting a high school student — a minor — in 2022, police said.
Jesus “Moose” Moore, 34, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was arrested and charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault, according to Manchester police.
On Feb. 7, authorities were notified by Lawrence police about an alleged sexual assault that had taken place in Manchester. Lawrence police had been approached by Safe Sport, an independent nonprofit that focuses on abuse prevention, education, and accountability in the sports community, according to a police report.
Through the investigation, police learned Moore, a basketball coach at Lawrence High School, had arranged for a female student to get a ride to Manchester, gave her alcohol, and sexually assaulted her at a Manchester motel, police said.
Moore turned himself in to Manchester police Thursday and his bail was set at $1,000 cash.
He will be arraigned in Manchester District Court on March 27, police said.
Moore has been the varsity boys basketball coach at Lawrence High since August 2018, according to his LinkedIn page on social media.
Juan Rodriguez, acting superintendent of Lawrence public schools, issued a statement early Friday afternoon saying the district was aware of the charges and that Moore is on administrative leave.
“LPS will have no additional comment on ongoing police and personnel matters,” according to the statement.
Moore has had a very successful run as the boys basketball coach. His team is currently 16-5 and ranked 9th in the state with the MIAA Div. 1 tournament opening up next week.
Last year’s team was the No. 2 seed at 22-3, before losing in the state quarterfinals.
Moore is a Lawrence High alum (2007), having played football and basketball. He later played both sports at Fitchburg State University.
His professional affiliation with Lawrence High School spans more than a decade.
He was initially hired as a long-term substitute at Lawrence High in 2013, later worked as a translational aide and in the district’s PACE behaviorial program, according to his LinkedIn page.
Moore has been a full-time physical education teacher in Lawrence since 2017, according to his page.
He is also listed on the New England Storm basketball website as the high school circuit team coach. Jose Peter, director of the club sports organization, could not be reached for comment for this story.
Lawrence police referred questions on Moore’s case to Manchester police.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport, which received the girl’s sexual assault complaint, “is an independent nonprofit committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and misconduct,” according to information posted on its website.
The website includes a tab where tips can be reported.
According to the website, SafeSport “also offers training resources, help and best practices for coaches, parents, athletes, youth and amateur sports organizations in creating your SafeSport environment.”
Sports Editor Bill Burt contributed to this story.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.