A Pontiac man is facing serious child abuse charges after authorities say he choked his 9-year-old son and threw his infant son into a crib during a violent episode at his home. Cedric Diequell-Stevens Moore, 38, was arraigned on Sunday on one count each of second and fourth-degree child abuse.
He is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail on a $100,000 bond. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged abuse occurred late on June 26 at Moore’s residence on the 100 block of South Edith Street. Deputies were called after Moore’s 9-year-old son fled the home and sought help from a nearby neighbor, who immediately contacted law enforcement.
Deputies responding to the scene found the boy with visible injuries, including “welts to his torso and severe abrasions to his right eye and around his neck,” officials reported. The child told investigators that the violence began after he fell asleep on the couch, angering his father.
He claimed Moore struck him multiple times with a belt across his back, legs, buttocks, and face, and also hit him with a broom handle. He further alleged that Moore choked him until he lost consciousness. Before he managed to escape, the boy said his father warned, “It’s gonna happen all night.”
During the same incident, the boy told deputies his 1-year-old brother began crying from hunger. In response, Moore allegedly “threw” the crying infant into a crib. Moore was arrested later that evening at a relative’s home. During questioning, authorities say he admitted to “whooping” his son for alleged theft.
Upon examining the infant, deputies noted signs of past abuse, including what appeared to be healed cigarette burns on the child’s legs and back. The 9-year-old was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition. The 1-year-old, whose mother is currently incarcerated, has been placed in the care of a relative by Child Protective Services.
Officials noted that the 9-year-old’s mother does not reside with Moore and was not present during the incident. “One of the worst things we see is horrific abuse to children,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement.
“It cannot be tolerated, and those responsible must be held fully accountable and their children protected.” Moore is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary examination later this month. The investigation remains ongoing.