Bond Denied For Felon Who Attacked Boy, 12

MARCH 23--A judge has denied a bond reduction for a convicted felon who last year was recorded brutally sucker-punching a 12-year-old boy dancing on a Missouri street corner, according to court records.

In a motion filed this month, Cedric Moore, 28, asked a Circuit Court judge to modify his $50,000 cash bond to a surety bond, which could be posted by a bail bondsman.

In the motion, attorney Theodore E. Liszewski reported that Moore “has also been accepted into the teen challenge program,” a reference to a nationwide residential care program for male defendants, probationers, and parolees that includes “individual and group biblical studies” and “work projects.”

However, Moore’s bid to depart the county jail was denied by Judge Benjamin Lewis. A bond reduction motion filed last year by Moore was also rejected.

As seen in the above video, which was broadcast on Facebook Live, Moore snuck up on Ethan Hagler as the boy, accompanied by his hip-hop dance instructor, performed in downtown Cape Girardeau on a Friday evening.

After felling the child with a roundhouse punch to the head, the 205-pound Moore (seen in the above mug shot) fled in an SUV driven by an another individual. Bleeding from the head and nose, Hagler was treated for his injuries at a local hospital.

Moore was arrested a week after the unprovoked July 3 attack and has been behind bars since. He has been charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child, both felonies to which Moore has pleaded not guilty.

In 2019, Moore was convicted of domestic assault and sentenced to five years probation and ordered to "obey all laws" and complete an anger management program and a “Batterer's Program.”

In light of his arrest for walloping Hagler, prosecutors have filed a probation violation charge against Moore, who could be ordered to serve prison time for the 2019 conviction. A probation violation hearing is scheduled for April 12. (2 pages)