Marisa Darden, chair of Benesch’s White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Compliance Practice Group, appeared on “Forbes True Crime” on Forbes TV to analyze the criminal charges facing now-former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore.
During the interview, Marisa examined the significance of Moore’s lack of prior criminal history and questioned whether felony charges are consistent with how similar cases are typically charged in Washtenaw County. She noted that defense counsel will likely scrutinize local charging data to assess whether Moore is being treated differently from other similarly situated defendants in domestic violence cases.
“You heard in the arraignment, the defense attorney explained that Mr. Moore had never been charged with a crime,” Marisa said. “He had no criminal history. And the idea that he would potentially be charged with a felony here I think is really suspicious. So, if I’m the defense attorney in this case, I’m really looking for some data from Washtenaw County, MI to figure out whether other similarly situated domestic violence defendants have been charged the same, more seriously or less seriously in circumstances and facts like these.”
The segment also explored the inherent challenges of prosecuting domestic violence cases, where allegations often hinge on conflicting accounts and limited corroborating evidence. Marisa emphasized the importance of evaluating the full timeline and totality of circumstances, while cautioning against conflating verified facts with rumors and online speculation that rapidly circulated following Moore’s arrest.
In addition, Marisa discussed how the University of Michigan’s internal investigation may become central to understanding what information was known, when it was known and how institutional decisions intersect with the criminal case.
Watch the full interview on "Forbes True Crime" on Forbes TV.
