Judge rules former JCPS teacher charged with child sex abuse can withdraw guilty plea

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville judge ruled a former Jefferson County Public Schools teacher who pleaded guilty in October to dozens of counts of child sexual abuse can withdraw that plea, finding that the defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel.

Christopher Morris, 52, was supposed to be sentenced in December to 20 years in prison for 37 counts of child sex abuse under a plea agreement reached between both sides.

But Morris previously told Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Eric Haner that his attorney, Aubrey Williams, didn't provide him with details about the agreement and yelled at him when he asked questions.

Williams vehemently disagreed, saying Morris had "defamed" him.

On Tuesday, Haner agreed with Morris, ruling Williams admitted he didn't discuss everything with his client before the plea agreement or provide him all of the evidence and information he needed to decide whether to plead guilty or go to trial.

Haner noted that Morris was "uncomfortable, reluctant, confused and emotional at times," during the guilty plea, adding that he now believes Morris’ "behavior at the time of the plea was influenced by other factors."

Morris claimed Williams had a "religious overtone" with him and Williams told his client he must "answer to God for his sins and beg mercy from the Court," according to the ruling.

Haner ruled he could not negate the impact of religion on Morris’ decision to plead guilty.

"Mr. Williams inserted an overtly religious aspect to his representation of his client, telling the Court about his own religious calling and telling the Defendant that he raped 'those boys,' that the parents of the alleged victims had put their trust in the Defendant, that he had to 'atone for his sins' and that he needed to beg for mercy from the Court," according to the ruling.

In summary, Haner ruled "when you factor all the circumstances of not having the discovery, not being informed of all the terms of the plea agreement before the hearing … the overtly religious tone that penetrated the attorney-client relationship, the ‘aggressive’ tone about signing off on the plea as descried by Defendant and the fact that this Defendant was naive to the process of criminal prosecution, the Court finds that Defendant’s guilty plea does not meet the rational standards of voluntariness required for this to be considered a constitutionally valid plea, Haner ruled.

Another attorney will now represent Morris.

Morris was arrested in June 2022 after police say he sexually abused two teens. At the time, Morris was employed with JCPS and was a coach for a traveling Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team.

Morris was later indicted on 38 counts of criminal behavior, including sexual abuse of a minor and sodomy. Police said the crimes happened between August 2012 and May 2022 with one victim who was under 16 years old, and another victim under 18 years old.

On Oct. 8, Morris waived his right to trial by entering an Alford plea, which means he maintains his innocence but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to convict him.

This story may be updated.

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