A $60,000-a-year New York private school baseball coach has been accused of sexually abusing seven boys, including one under the age of 13.
Nicolas Morton, 31, was arrested Thursday for sexual conduct and abuse of young athletes he coached on two youth baseball teams.
The allegations involved the travel baseball team he founded, as well as the Packer Collegiate Insititute team, where he was head coach.
Morton is accused of a long list of sexual offenses after allegedly making sexual comments to the young players, asking them to show him their genitals and touching them intimately on several occasions.
Nicolas Morton, 31, was arrested Thursday for sexual conduct and abuse of young athletes he coached on two youth baseball teams.
When parents found out what was happening in July, the school was alerted to the inappropriate behavior and Morton was fired in August after having worked there since 2019.
Boys on his team said they were frequently threatened or pressured to comply with Morton’s demands, including being told they would be kicked off the team.
They were also said to have offered them material benefits or allowed them to stop difficult training exercises if they were exposed to him, according to the Kings County district attorney.
Three of the seven victims reported that Morton had allegedly touched their genitals over their clothing, and one said he had touched her under her clothing.
The seven boys accused Morton of asking or pressuring them to show him their genitals. They recalled that at almost every practice, Morton made sexual comments, repeatedly asked to see boys’ pubic hair and talked at length about masturbation.
Morton has been arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a 20-count indictment charging him with second-degree sexual conduct against a child, third- and first-degree sexual abuse, 13 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two charges of forcible touching and second-degree false imprisonment.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Morton’s actions represent a “profound betrayal of trust, taking advantage of young athletes under his direction” and that the role coaches take on is to “nurture young minds and talents, not exploit them.” for personal gratification.”
Victims recalled that at nearly every practice, Morton made sexual comments, repeatedly asked to see boys’ pubic hair, and talked at length about masturbation.
Morton himself previously graduated from the Packer Collegiate Insititute and was decorated as a star baseball player, and co-founded his own baseball team, the NYC Freedom travel team.
When parents found out what was happening in July, the school was alerted to the inappropriate behavior and Morton was fired in August after having worked there since 2019.
Morton himself previously graduated from the Packer Collegiate Institute and was decorated as a star baseball player. He went on to play for the University of San Antonio in Texas, as well as Washington & Jefferson College in Pittsburgh.
Morton also co-founded the NYC Freedom travel outfit for kids under 12, whose website was apparently taken down shortly after his firing, the newspaper reported. New York Post.
“The disturbing details of this case highlight the lasting harm such behavior inflicts on vulnerable young people, and we are committed to holding (Morton) fully accountable,” Gonzalez added.
Morton’s bail was set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 surety, and he was ordered to return to court in December.
