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.
