Travel baseball coach accused of sexually abusing teenage players

The coach of a Brooklyn youth baseball team sexually abused several teenage boys who played for him, repeatedly insisting that the players expose themselves and sometimes even refusing to stop difficult training exercises until they did so, prosecutors said.

An investigation found that the abuse stretched from early 2023 through the summer of 2024, when 31-year-old Nicolas Morton managed a travel baseball team while serving as head coach at The Packer Collegiate Institute. The abuse took place during practices, most of which took place at Packers’ gym and at several baseball fields in Brooklyn, involving victims between the ages of 12 and 14, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez alleged.

Victims said Morton made sexual comments at almost every practice, repeatedly asked or pressured them to show him their pubic hair or genitals, and spoke at length about masturbation. Three of the boys claimed the coach touched their genitals above their clothing, and one reported that Morton touched him under his clothing, prosecutors said.

On several occasions, the players said Morton would try to get them to expose themselves by offering them material things, or telling them they couldn’t stop running or doing other exercises until they showed him. The coach would also threaten to cut boys from the team if they did not comply, Gonzalez said:

By the summer of 2024, rumors about the alleged abuse began to spread among the players’ parents, some of whom went to Packer with their concerns. Morton, of Park Slope, was fired by Packer in August.

Morton was arrested and arraigned on Thursday. In total, he faces 20 charges, including sexual abuse, sexual conduct against a child, forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment, the prosecutor’s office said.

“This defendant’s alleged actions represent a profound betrayal of trust, attacking the young athletes under his leadership. Coaches are charged with nurturing young minds and talents, not exploiting them for personal gratification,” Gonzalez said. “The disturbing details of this case highlight the lasting harm such behavior causes to vulnerable young people, and we are committed to holding this defendant fully accountable.”

Bail for Morton was set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 surety. His next court appearance was scheduled for December 13. Information about an attorney for Morton was not immediately available.