DA orders lacrosse records release

District Attorney John Hummel last week ordered that Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) must release records regarding the Outlaws Lacrosse program as requested by Mike Morgan of Sisters. The records have to do with allegations made by parents regarding the conduct last season of then-coach Andrew Gorayeb.

The DA required that SPRD must release the records by August 21 or determine to fight the order in court. The release is really a moot point, since the letters from the parents detailing the allegations have been obtainable as a public record from City Hall since June.

SPRD Executive Director Liam Hughes said the district will comply with the DA's directive.

"I'm a little disappointed by it because I come from the school of management that employee records are confidential," he said. "But we will release the records."

SPRD had resisted the release of the records citing public-record exemptions regarding personnel matters and the possibility of litigation arising from the matter. Hummel rejected SPRD's arguments and also cited a public interest in having the records released. (Click here to see the text of Hummel's letter).

Last June, a group of parents of lacrosse players filed a formal complaint with SPRD, which operates Outlaws Lacrosse with the Sisters School District, which hosts the program in its facilities. They also copied the Sisters City Council. Gorayeb is employed as Sisters city manager.

One of the parents involved offered to provide a copy of the complaint to The Nugget, but on the condition that The Nugget sign a confidentiality agreement. The Nugget declined to do so and obtained the complaint from City Hall.

The complaint and a collection of individual letters cite problems with the lacrosse program structure and allege that Gorayeb harassed and intimidated players and used inappropriate "sexually charged" language.

Gorayeb, through an attorney, demanded that the parents cease circulating what he called a "defamatory letter." Gorayeb asserts that the complaint letters "contain certain allegations that are demonstrably false" and "contain allegations regarding statements that are misrepresented or are regarding matters that have previously been resolved..."

The parents' complaint demanded that Gorayeb resign or be removed from his position. Gorayeb resigned as coach and stepped away from his administrative role in the program in June. From SPRD's point of view, the resignation closed the issue and no investigation was conducted. Since Gorayeb's departure, SPRD has been working to restructure the program.

The Nugget asked Gorayeb why he chose to resign if, as he asserts, the allegations against him were false or misrepresented. Gorayeb provided a lengthy response, noting that he has helped many Sisters kids both as a coach and as an advisor on post-high school plans, who remain in contact with him and appreciate that help. He also noted that he worked this past lacrosse season with three former players who came back to coach with him.

"I guess I was just devastated by the attack that came at the end of an awesome season," he said. "I was very hurt by what happened. I guess I could have fed the flames and told the many parents and kids that wanted to support me that we should push back and fight for what is right, but in the end, that felt toxic to me. Why engage and spend a bunch of time and energy on all this negative crap... So I walked away."

There has been conflict involving Morgan and Gorayeb for over two years. Both men served on the SPRD board of directors (Gorayeb still does). Morgan is a cooperating witness in a civil-rights lawsuit against the City of Sisters and several individuals, including Gorayeb, by former Sisters businessman Ky Karnecki. In the suit, Morgan recounts statements he alleges Gorayeb made regarding Karnecki.

Due to that pending litigation, Gorayeb was not attending SPRD meetings in which Morgan was in attendance and Morgan sought to have Gorayeb removed from the board for non-attendance. The SPRD board declined to demand Gorayeb's resignation, and Morgan subsequently resigned.

In regards to Morgan's records request regarding lacrosse, Gorayeb asserted that Morgan, whom he called "a miserable, litigious bully," ... "is going to try to use this to damage me."

Morgan responded in his email newsletter "Sisters Voice," saying, "Instead of showing at least a modicum of contrition he lashes out at me with some despicably crude language and name-calling. Is that toxic or what?"

Since Gorayeb stepped away from the lacrosse program, which met the parents' demands, it is unclear what further action may arise from a public release of the materials associated with the complaint.