Youth Basketball Coach Admits Sexually Abusing Preteen Player

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A Westchester man trusted to help mentor young girls instead abused that trust causing untold damage.

A Mount Vernon youth basketball coach pleaded guilty Friday in Westchester County Court to a felony charge after the repeated sexual abuse of a girl younger than 13, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

Dwayne Murray, 63, pleaded guilty to course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, the district attorney’s office said. The charge is a Class B violent felony.

Murray is expected to be sentenced on Nov. 17, to a determinate term of 18 years in state prison, followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He also will be required to register as a sex offender.

The abuse took place in Mount Vernon between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024. Prosecutors said the victim was a girl child under the age of 13 and that Murray subjected her to two or more acts of sexual conduct, including at least one act of oral sexual conduct.

“The case against Dwayne Murray is a profound betrayal of trust," Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. "The defendant held a position of authority within the Mount Vernon community, which he not only violated but exploited to gain the victim’s trust and subjected her to months of horrific sexual abuse. But the betrayal didn’t end there. Even after the abuse, the defendant used his public platform to deny the allegations, further deceiving the very community he was entrusted to serve.”

Cacace said that the victim not only had to endure the abuse, but also the shame of falsely being accused of fabricating The allegations.

“The defendant’s predatory conduct and persistent lies have compounded the trauma suffered by the victim, a young girl who should never have been forced to endure this unspeakable harm," the DA said. "The substantial sentence the defendant faces should serve as a clear warning that my office will always pursue justice on behalf of child victims and hold accountable anyone who abuses a position of authority, regardless of their prominence or standing in the community. I commend my Special Prosecutions Division and Criminal Investigators Squad for their tireless and meticulous efforts to secure this fitting outcome.”

Murray was arrested May 14, 2025, after its Criminal Investigators Squad received a tip alleging child sexual abuse and opened an investigation. Investigators interviewed witnesses, the victim and Murray, executed search warrants and analyzed electronic devices belonging to the victim and Murray.

The device search showed Murray had exchanged sexually inappropriate text messages with the victim. The office also said Murray admitted his involvement in the crime during an interview with criminal investigators.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Kontos and Special Prosecutions Division Co-Chief Christine Hatfield. The district attorney’s office asked anyone who may be a victim of Murray to contact local police or its multilingual tips line at 914-995-TIPS (8477).