Local News

Mass. high school coach accused of sexually assaulting student in N.H.

Jesus Moore, 34, is accused of plying an underage student with alcohol and sexually assaulting her in Manchester a year ago, according to officials.

February 23, 2024

1 minute to read

The head coach of the Lawrence High School boys’ basketball team was arrested Thursday after a former high school student accused him of sexual assault.

Jesus Moore, 34, turned himself into police in Manchester, New Hampshire, after the woman, who was a minor at the time, told police he allegedly sexually assaulted her at a Manchester motel in 2022, according to officials. Authorities said she was an underage high school student at the time.

The woman told investigators that Moore arranged for her to get a ride to Manchester on Feb. 7 and plied her with alcohol before the alleged assault, according to officials.

According to The Boston Globe, the woman, who is now 18, reported the alleged assault to SafeSport, a nonprofit organization focused on abuse prevention in the sports community. The organization then reached out to Lawrence police officers about the incident, and investigators contacted Manchester police.

Moore faces charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault and is due to be arraigned at Manchester District Court on March 27, according to officials. His bail was set at $1,000.

Since 2014, Moore worked as a physical education teacher at Lawrence Public Schools and has coached their varsity boys’ basketball team since 2018.

A spokesperson for the school district told the Globe they are aware of the charges and that Moore is on administrative leave. Moore was reportedly absent when the basketball team competed last week in the Comcast Classic tournament in Woburn.