A youth basketball coach from Westchester County has been charged with abusing a young girl multiple times over a five-month period, according to prosecutors. Dwayne Murray, 62, who coached the Mount Vernon Junior Knights team, was ordered to be released without bail after facing felony sexual conduct charges related to a minor, as stated by Westchester District Attorney Susan Cucars.
Cucars noted that Murray had made several admissions regarding the alleged abuse.
“Between October 1, 2023, and March 1, 2023, it is alleged that Murray was involved in two or more sexual acts with a child under 13, including at least one act of oral sexual conduct,” she explained. “We take crimes against children—especially of a sexual nature—very seriously.”
The investigation began on April 12 after authorities received reports of the alleged abuse.
Police confiscated Murray’s phone and electronic devices, revealing that he had exchanged text messages with the victim.
Murray was arrested during a court appearance on Wednesday, which is perhaps quite surprising given his prior denial of the allegations in a six-minute Facebook video, where he claimed they were “absolutely, completely false.”
Details regarding whether the victim was a member of Murray’s team or the specific locations of the alleged incidents were not disclosed, according to Cucars.
The Junior Knights program is part of a well-respected basketball initiative in the area.
