Child-assault suspect given change of trial venue

A child sexual-assault suspect from Jackson known for his portrayal of Santa Claus was granted a change of venue for his trial.

Jeffrey Moffat, 56, is charged with statutory sodomy of a child younger than 14.

The venue has been changed to New Madrid County, but Moffat will continue to be housed at Cape Girardeau County Jail.

Judge Benjamin Lewis said New Madrid County has been sending its inmates to Pemiscot County, and the extra travel for assistant public defender Amanda Altman, who remains Moffat's attorney, would be unwieldy.

Altman previously requested changing housing for Moffat on Oct. 18 because he was being roughed up by other inmates in Cape Girardeau County.

Lewis denied bond reduction from $50,000 cash only after Altman said Moffat suffered from diabetes and a hernia, which would be better treated at Moffat's brother's house in St. Louis.

Moffat is accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl, beginning in August 2014, at a house in Cape Girardeau when he was baby-sitting the girl and her sisters at home.

The girl testified in court Aug. 19 the abuse took place several more times in the following months. The mother of the girl said Moffat baby-sat once every two months.

Moffat volunteered at the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, playing Santa Claus for nearly 20 years. St. Louis Mountain and Southern Railway president Cheryl Huffman said about 1,100 children visited Santa at the railway last year.

Moffat has not been accused of committing any crimes while he volunteered as Santa Claus.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address: 100 Court St., Jackson, Mo.