A baseball coach at a $60,000-a-year private school in New York has been accused of sexually abusing seven children, 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 charges 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 sex crimes after he allegedly made sexual comments to the young players, asked them to show him their genitals and touched them intimately several times.
Nicolas Morton, 31, was arrested Thursday for sexual conduct and abuse of young athletes he coached on two youth baseball teams
When parents became aware of what was going on in July, the school was notified of the inappropriate behavior and Morton was fired in August after working there since 2019.
The boys on his team said they were regularly threatened or pressured to comply with Morton’s demands, including being told they would be removed from the team.
They also allegedly received material benefits or were allowed to stop difficult training exercises if they exposed themselves to him, according to the Kings County prosecutor.
Three of the seven victims reported that Morton allegedly touched their genitals above their clothing, and one said he was touched under their clothing.
All seven boys accused Morton of asking or pressuring them to show him their genitals. They recalled that Morton made sexual comments at almost every practice, repeatedly asked to see the boys’ pubic hair and talked extensively 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, thirteen counts of endangering the welfare of a child , two counts of forcible touching and second-degree unlawful imprisonment.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Morton’s actions represent a “profound betrayal of trust, preying on young athletes under his leadership” and that the role coaches take on is “to nurture young minds and talents, not exploiting it for personal gratification’.
Victims recalled that Morton made sexual comments at almost every practice, repeatedly asked to see the boys’ pubic hair and talked extensively about masturbation.
Morton himself was a previous graduate of Packer Collegiate Insititute and was decorated as a star baseball player, and he co-founded his own baseball team, the NYC Freedom Travel Team.
When parents became aware of what was going on in July, the school was notified of the inappropriate behavior and Morton was fired in August after working there since 2019.
Morton himself had previously graduated from Packer Collegiate Institute and was distinguished as a star baseball player. He went on to play for the University of San Antonio in Texas and for Washington & Jefferson College in Pittsburgh.
Morton also co-founded the NYC Freedom travel team for children 12 and under, whose website was apparently taken down not long after his dismissal, the reported New York Post.
‘The disturbing details of this case highlight the lasting harm such behavior causes to vulnerable young people, and we are committed to the [Morton] fully responsible,” 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.