Cedric Diequell-Stevens Moore, 38, from Pontiac, Michigan, pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse charges on December 5, 2025, before Oakland County Circuit Judge Nanci Grant, avoiding trial while acknowledging sufficient evidence for conviction.
Incident Overview
The abuse occurred on June 26, 2025, at Moore’s home in the 100 block of South Edith Street, where he allegedly beat his 9-year-old son with a belt on his face, back, legs, and buttocks, struck him with a broom handle, and choked him unconscious for falling asleep on the couch. Moore reportedly said, “It’s gonna happen all night,” before leaving for a store, allowing the boy to escape and seek help from a neighbor who called deputies. The 1-year-old sibling had healed cigarette burns on his back and legs, and Moore allegedly threw him into a crib when he cried from hunger.
Arrest and Charges
Deputies found the older boy with severe abrasions to his eye and neck, plus torso welts; he was hospitalized in stable condition. Moore was arrested at a relative’s home, claiming he was “whooping” the boy for stealing; the 9-year-old’s mother did not live there, while the infant’s mother was incarcerated, leading Child Protective Services to take custody. Initially charged with second- and fourth-degree child abuse on a $100,000 bond, Moore’s sentencing is set for January 21, 2026.
Official Response
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard condemned the acts as “horrific abuse to children” that demands full accountability and child protection.
