PONTIAC, Mich. – The Oakland County father who beat his son for falling asleep on the couch learned his sentence on Wednesday.
Cedric Diequell-Stevens Moore, 38, of Pontiac pleaded no contest in December after his 9-year-old son reported physical abuse.
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The investigation began June 26. Police said Moore went to the store, leaving the 9-year-old alone with a 1-year-old.
While his father was gone, the 9-year-old left and went to a neighbor’s house for help.
When deputies arrived, they found multiple injuries on the 9-year-old, including welts on the boy’s torso and severe abrasions to his right eye and around his neck. The young boy told deputies that his father was angry with him because he fell asleep on the couch.
The boy also said his father beat him with a belt and hit him with a broomstick before choking him until he passed out. The father allegedly told the child, “It’s gonna happen all night,” then left for the store.
The child told authorities that his baby brother was crying because he was hungry, and his father “threw” the 1-year-old into his crib.
Moore was arrested at a relative’s home. Moore told the relative that he had been “whooping” his son for stealing.
The 1-year-old was also found with injuries, including healed cigarette burns on his back and legs.
The 9-year-old was taken to a hospital for treatment. The 1-year-old was given to a relative by Child Protective Services.
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, Moore pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse and fourth-degree child abuse.
He was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, to 3-10 years on the second-degree charge and 209 days on the fourth-degree charge.