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Former Michigan coach Matthew Weiss fights identity theft charges in stolen photos case

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Former Michigan coach Matthew Weiss fights identity theft charges in stolen photos case


The former NFL and college football coach accused of stealing the private, intimate images of student-athletes is fighting to have some of the charges dropped, alleging that federal prosecutors are trying to “turbocharge” a hacking case.

An attorney for the former coach, Matthew Weiss, moved to dismiss 10 charges of aggravated identity theft in a motion filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. A federal grand jury indicted Weiss in March on 24 charges — 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Weiss was hired at the University of Michigan in 2021 after 12 seasons as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens. He was terminated in January 2023 after allegations emerged that he gained unauthorized access to other people’s computer accounts.

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He is accused of accessing personal identifying information about student-athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities across the country. Federal prosecutors alleged that he used that information to access digital accounts to download intimate photos and videos.

Weiss accessed more than 3,000 accounts, mostly targeting female student-athletes, federal prosecutors said in the indictment from March.

This week’s motion by his attorney, David Benowitz, said the government’s allegations did not substantiate aggravated identity theft charges.

“Hacking is hacking, not identity theft,” the motion said.

In the motion, Benowitz notes that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act criminalizes unauthorized digital access to computers as a misdemeanor. That can be enhanced into a felony if it is used in furtherance of another crime.

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Benowitz’s motion says the allegations, if proven true, do not meet the aggravated identity theft enhancement.

The motion says that the allegations are a case of “digital trespassing” and that the means of identification were used to unlock a metaphorical door rather than to engage in deceit.

“A physical key is a unique means of identification that only the homeowner is supposed to have,” the motion said. “But even so, inserting the key and unlocking the door does not steal the homeowner’s identity.”

The motion accused the government of being unsatisfied with the existing computer trespassing laws and argued that prosecutors are trying to “bootstrap computer trespass into ‘aggravated identity theft.’”

“If its gambit succeeds, computer hacking that ordinarily leads to probation will be transformed into an offense with a two-year mandatory minimum sentence of incarceration for each act of hacking—up to 20 years total,” the motion said.

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Benowitz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The public information officer at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan is furloughed because of the government shutdown, according to an auto-response email. A prosecutor in Weiss’ case did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the motion.



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Michigan

Appeals court backs Michigan school in banning ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ shirts

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17 hours ago

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October 14, 2025

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Appeals court backs Michigan school in banning ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ shirts


SAND LAKE, Mich. – A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled in favor of a Michigan school district in a dispute over free speech and “Let’s Go Brandon” shirts, clothing that took a jab at then-President Joe Biden.

The mother of two boys, who got the shirts as Christmas gifts, said her sons’ First Amendment rights were violated when they were told to take off the shirts at Tri County Middle School in 2022. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed in 2-1 opinion.

“In the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics. And the protection for political speech doesn’t give a student carte blanche to use vulgarity at school — even when that vulgarity is cloaked in innuendo or euphemism,” said judges John Nalbandian and Karen Nelson Moore.

In 2021, an obscenity directed at Biden was being chanted at a NASCAR race, though a TV sports reporter said it was “Let’s Go, Brandon.” The line suddenly became popular among Biden’s conservative critics.

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The school said it wasn’t prohibiting political messages, just vulgar ones. There was evidence that some students wore clothing that said, “Make America Great Again,” or had messages supporting President Donald Trump.

Judge John Bush disagreed with the majority opinion and said the wrong legal standard was applied.

“The phrase at issue here is a euphemism for political criticism. It contains no sexual content, no graphic imagery, and no actual profanity,” he said. “To the extent that it implies an offensive phrase, it does so obliquely — by design.”

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.



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Michigan high school football updated playoff points entering Week 8

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1 day ago

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October 14, 2025

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Michigan high school football updated playoff points entering Week 8


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The Michigan high school football playoffs are two weeks away.

The top 32 teams in each of the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s eight divisions earn a berth to the five-round playoffs, which begin Oct. 31.

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The eight playoff brackets are determined by playoff points, which are derived from a formula that accounts for team wins, opponents’ division/school size, and how opponents fare in the rest of the season’s schedule.

Here is what the 256-team playoff field across all eight divisions looks like after seven weeks, according to the MHSAA’s playoff point summary. Playoff points are rounded to the hundredth decimal point.

Division 1

School, record, MHSAA playoff points

  • Hudsonville, 7-0, 79.14 playoff points.
  • Clarkston, 6-1, 78.29.
  • Belleville, 6-1, 72.29.
  • Saline, 6-1, 71.29.
  • Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 7-0, 70.71.
  • Detroit Cass Tech, 7-0, 69.71.
  • Brighton, 6-1, 69.43.
  • Grand Blanc, 7-0, 68.71.
  • Farmington, 6-1, 68.57.
  • Rockford, 5-2, 67.86.
  • Northville, 6-1, 67.71.
  • Brownstown Woodhaven, 6-1, 67.43.
  • Davison, 7-0, 66.86.
  • Howell, 6-1, 66.14.
  • Macomb Dakota, 6-1, 66.14.
  • Rochester Adams, 5-2, 65.14.
  • Romeo, 5-2, 65.14.
  • Grand Ledge, 6-1, 62.43.
  • Oxford, 5-2, 61.86.
  • Dearborn Fordson, 5-2, 61.14.
  • West Bloomfield, 5-2, 61.14.
  • East Kentwood, 5-2, 60.29.
  • Utica Eisenhower, 5-2, 58.
  • Utica, 5-2, 56.14.
  • Grandville, 4-3, 54.14.
  • Sterling Heights Stevenson, 4-3, 54.14.
  • Dearborn, 4-3, 52.57.
  • Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 4-3, 50.
  • Hartland, 3-4, 48.
  • Jenison, 3-4, 47.29.
  • Ann Arbor Huron, 3-4, 43.86.
  • Holt, 4-3, 43.86.

Division 2

  • South Lyon, 7-0, 73.71.
  • Portage Central, 7-0, 73.71.
  • Dexter, 6-1, 70.
  • Gibraltar Carlson, 7-0, 69.43.
  • Grosse Pointe South, 6-1, 67.29.
  • Port Huron Northern, 6-1, 65.86.
  • Midland Dow, 6-1, 63.43.
  • Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 5-1, 62.33.
  • Livonia Franklin, 5-2, 61.86.
  • North Farmington, 5-2, 61.14.
  • Walled Lake Western, 5-2, 60.57.
  • Muskegon, 5-2, 60.43.
  • White Lake Lakeland, 5-2, 58.86.
  • Birmingham Seaholm, 5-2, 57.71.
  • Warren Cousino, 5-2, 55.57.
  • Portage Northern, 5-2, 55.
  • St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 5-2, 54.43.
  • Byron Center, 4-3, 53.43.
  • Lincoln Park, 5-2, 52.57.
  • Roseville, 4-3, 52.57.
  • Traverse City Central, 4-3, 52.43.
  • Waterford Mott, 4-3, 50.86.
  • Birmingham Groves, 4-3, 50.
  • Allen Park, 4-3, 49.71.
  • Temperance Bedford, 4-3, 49.25.
  • Grand Rapids Northview, 5-2, 49.14.
  • Lansing Everett, 4-3, 48.29.
  • Muskegon Mona Shores, 4-3, 47.57.
  • Traverse City West, 3-4, 47.43.
  • South Lyon East, 4-3, 46.29.
  • Oak Park, 3-4, 46.14.
  • East Lansing, 2-5, 45.57.

Division 3

  • DeWitt, 7-0, 74.
  • Mount Pleasant, 7-0, 70.14.
  • Gaylord, 7-0, 63.
  • Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, 6-1, 61.86.
  • Niles, 7-0, 61.43.
  • Ypsilanti Lincoln, 6-1, 58.57.
  • Warren Fitzgerald, 6-1, 57.57.
  • Cedar Springs, 6-1, 56.43.
  • East Grand Rapids, 5-2, 56.29.
  • Detroit King, 5-2, 56.25.
  • Adrian, 6-1, 54.86.
  • Fenton, 5-2, 54.
  • Lowell, 5-2, 51.71.
  • Coldwater, 6-1, 51.43.
  • Port Huron, 4-3, 50.14.
  • Marysville, 5-2, 49.86.
  • Hastings, 5-2, 49.71.
  • Mason, 4-3, 49.14.
  • Zeeland West, 5-2, 49.14.
  • St. Joseph, 4-3, 47.71.
  • Holly, 4-3, 47.
  • Trenton, 4-3, 46.57.
  • Zeeland East, 4-3, 46.57.
  • Redford Thurston, 5-2, 46.43.
  • Owosso, 5-2, 45.57.
  • Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 4-3, 44.86.
  • Linden, 5-2, 44.71.
  • Riverview, 5-2, 43.71.
  • Marquette, 4-3, 42.71.
  • Bay City Western, 3-4, 40.86.
  • Bay City John Glenn, 4-3, 40.57.
  • Warren De La Salle, 2-5, 38.43.

Division 4

  • Harper Woods, 7-0, 79.71.
  • Goodrich, 7-0, 62.29.
  • Hudsonville Unity Christian, 7-0, 62.29.
  • Williamston, 7-0, 62.
  • Battle Creek Harper Creek, 6-1, 59.71.
  • Chelsea, 6-1, 57.86.
  • Escanaba, 6-1, 55.14.
  • Haslett, 5-2, 55.
  • Madison Heights Lamphere, 5-2, 55.
  • Big Rapids, 7-0, 54.29.
  • Dearborn Divine Child, 54.14.
  • Portland, 7-0, 52.86.
  • Edwardsburg, 6-1, 52.14.
  • Ludington, 7-0, 51.71.
  • Wyoming Godwin Heights, 6-1, 50.
  • Center Line, 6-1, 49.71.
  • Redford Union, 5-2, 49.43.
  • Freeland, 6-1, 48.
  • Paw Paw, 4-3, 47.14.
  • Macomb Lutheran North, 7-0, 47.
  • Grand Rapids South Christian. 4-3, 46.
  • Three Rivers, 4-3, 45.
  • Vicksburg, 4-3, 43.71.
  • Grand Rapids Christian, 4-3, 42.
  • Tecumseh, 4-3, 41.57.
  • Harper Woods Chandler Park, 5-2, 41.43.
  • Holland Christian, 4-3, 40.14.
  • Ortonville Brandon, 4-3, 40.14.
  • St. Johns, 4-3, 40.
  • Spring Lake, 4-3, 39.57.
  • Lansing Sexton, 38.43.
  • Clio, 4-3, 38.29.

Division 5

  • Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 7-0, 68.5.
  • Grand Rapids West Catholic, 6-1, 56.29.
  • Monroe Jefferson, 7-0, 54.
  • Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 5-2, 53.43.
  • Richmond, 6-1, 52.57.
  • Romulus Summit Academy, 6-1, 52.14.
  • Saginaw Swan Valley, 6-1, 51.14.
  • Frankenmuth, 6-1, 49.86.
  • Detroit Southeastern, 5-2, 48.43.
  • Ogemaw Heights, 6-1, 48.43.
  • Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, 7-0, 45.86.
  • Armada, 5-2, 44.71.
  • Kingsford, 6-1, 43.71.
  • Whitehall, 4-3, 42.43.
  • Muskegon Oakridge, 5-2, 42.29.
  • Berrien Springs, 4-1, 42.
  • Clare, 5-2, 41.86.
  • Howard City Tri County, 5-2, 41.57.
  • Michigan Center, 7-0, 40.86.
  • Dowagiac, 5-2, 39.11.
  • Detroit Denby, 5-2, 38.29.
  • Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep, 5-2, 38.11.
  • Wyoming Kelloggsville, 5-2, 37.14.
  • Yale, 4-3, 36.71.
  • Hopkins, 4-3, 36.57.
  • Gladwin, 4-3, 36.43.
  • Romulus, 3-4, 36.43.
  • Flat Rock, 4-3, 36.
  • Negaunee, 4-3, 35.14.
  • Hazel Park, 5-2, 35.
  • Detroit Voyageur College Prep, 4-3, 34.14.
  • Shepherd, 4-3, 33.86.

Division 6

  • Almont, 7-0, 57.43.
  • Jackson Lumen Christi, 4-3, 52.18.
  • Belding, 6-1, 51.71.
  • Marine City, 6-1, 50.14.
  • Detroit Edison, 6-1, 49.57.
  • Olivet, 6-1, 47.29.
  • Traverse City St. Francis, 45.21.
  • Montrose, 7-0, 44.43.
  • Kent City, 7-0, 43.71.
  • Reed City, 5-2, 42.86.
  • Ecorse, 6-1, 42.43.
  • Kingsley, 5-2, 42.29.
  • Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 5-2, 41.5.
  • Boyne City, 5-2, 40.
  • Flint Hamady, 5-2, 39.71.
  • Ida, 6-1, 39.43.
  • Detroit Pershing, 5-2, 38.14.
  • Ovid-Elsie, 5-2, 37.86.
  • Durand, 5-2, 36.86.
  • Calumet, 5-2, 36.07.
  • Detroit Central, 5-2, 33.86.
  • Napoleon, 5-2, 33.29.
  • Warren Michigan Collegiate, 4-3, 33.29.
  • Sanford Meridian, 5-2, 31.29.
  • Clawson, 4-3, 31.14.
  • Montague, 3-4, 30.43.
  • Buchanan, 4-3, 30.2.
  • Flint New Standard Academy, 6-1, 30.14.
  • Central Montcalm, 5-2, 29.14.
  • Kalkaska, 5-2, 29.
  • Adrian Madison, 4-3, 28.71.
  • Clinton Township Clintondale, 28.43.

Division 7

  • Menominee, 7-0, 49.91.
  • Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 6-1, 46.14.
  • Charlevoix, 7-0, 40.14.
  • Pewamo-Westphalia, 6-0, 39.83.
  • Millington, 6-1, 38.71.
  • Schoolcraft, 6-1, 38.29.
  • Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 7-0, 38.
  • Elkton Pigeon Bay Port Laker, 6-1, 37.57.
  • Hanover-Horton, 5-2, 37.29.
  • Constantine, 5-2, 37.14.
  • Cass City, 5-2, 35.
  • Lawton, 5-2, 34.86.
  • Clinton, 5-2, 34.71.
  • Ithaca, 6-1, 34.14.
  • McBain, 5-2, 33.57.
  • Bronson, 6-1, 33.29.
  • Harrison, 6-1, 33.29.
  • Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 6-1, 33.29.
  • North Muskegon, 5-2, 33.07.
  • LeRoy Pine River, 5-2, 29.29.
  • Union City, 5-2, 28.
  • Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, 4-3, 27.93.
  • Detroit Community, 4-3, 27.57.
  • Shelby, 5-2, 27.43.
  • Saranac, 5-2, 26.93.
  • Leslie, 4-3, 26.57.
  • Burton Bendle, 5-2, 25.14.
  • Jonesville, 4-3, 24.71.
  • Manton, 4-3, 24.71.
  • Coloma, 3-4, 23.14.
  • Galesburg-Augusta, 3-4, 22.86.
  • Ravenna, 3-4, 22.29.

Division 8

  • Hudson, 7-0, 45.57.
  • Madison Heights Madison, 6-1, 41.43.
  • Melvindale ABT, 7-0, 40.43.
  • Harbor Beach, 7-0, 37.57.
  • Beal City, 7-0, 37.43.
  • Allen Park Cabrini, 7-0, 36.57.
  • Maple City Glen Lake, 5-1, 35.88.
  • New Lothrop, 5-2, 34.43.
  • White Pigeon, 6-1, 33.86.
  • Springpoty, 7-0, 33.71.
  • Bark River-Harris, 5-1, 32.21.
  • Decatur, 5-2, 31.57.
  • Fowler, 5-2, 30.93.
  • Unionville-Sebewaing, 5-2, 30.43.
  • Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central, 5-2, 29.14.
  • Frankfort, 5-2, 28.29.
  • Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 5-2, 27.29.
  • Mancelona, 4-3, 27.
  • Genesee, 3-4, 26.86.
  • Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 4-3, 26.86.
  • Iron Mountain, 4-3, 26.52.
  • Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, 4-3, 26.29.
  • Manchester, 4-3, 26.14.
  • Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-4, 25.86.
  • East Jordan, 4-3, 25.64.
  • Reese, 4-3, 25.
  • Centreville, 3-4, 24.14.
  • Southfield Bradford Academy, 4-3, 23.71.
  • Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 4-3, 23.14.
  • L’Anse, 4-3, 22.93.
  • Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 4-3, 22.64.
  • Petersburg Summerfield, 4-3, 22.4.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Detroit Free Press boys and girls athlete of the week.

Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.



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Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs $2 billion annual road funding bill

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2 days ago

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October 13, 2025

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs billion annual road funding bill


On Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill to invest $2 billion annually to fix Michigan’s state and local roads.

“Roads are not just about making life a little bit easier. It’s about jobs, it’s about families, it’s about our economy, it’s about the ability to move Michigan forward,” said Whitmer.

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The governor locked in her commitment to her campaign promise in Clinton Township on Monday by signing the historic road funding bill.

“We’re looking at another $30 million annually, and that is significant. There was no question about it. The governor was going to find a way to figure out how does she solve this problem at a local level,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.

It’s an investment that took lawmakers compromising on both sides of the aisle. House Speaker Matt Hall tells CBS News Detroit that they got it done together.

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“Governor Whitmer and the Democrats were only comfortable cutting a billion dollars of waste, fraud and abuse, and that was the limitation, so we matched them dollar for dollar. It’s about $2 billion to roads revenue and cutting waste, fraud and abuse and dedicated it all to roads. And also dedicating all of the money collected at the pump for the first time to roads,” said Hall.

This bill aims to bring more money, jobs and peace of mind for Michigan’s road crews.

“This deal is the largest transportation fund and increase in decades and will secure as many as 188,000 construction-related jobs,” said construction worker Tiran Clemons.

Since the governor took office, there have been 24,500 miles of Michigan roads repaired by the end of this construction season.  

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