Judge denies bond reduction for man accused of abusing young girl

A Jackson man accused of sexual abuse of a child appeared in court Friday morning to request a reduction in bond and a change of venue for the case.

Jeffrey Moffat, 56, requested a reduction in his $50,000 cash-only bond.

His attorney, Amanda Altman, argued Moffat should be allowed a surety bond because he had no criminal history and said the crime with which he is charged, first-degree statutory sodomy, is nonviolent.

Altman told Judge Benjamin Lewis that Moffat would be staying in St. Louis with his brother, who would assure no children would be in the home.

She said being out on bond would allow Moffat to better care for his health issues, which include diabetes and a hernia. She said news of the charges against Moffat had traveled through the jail, and he had been harassed and "roughed up" by other inmates.

In addition, Altman argued the victim had changed her version of events between the time of her statement to police and the preliminary hearing, leading to the dismissal of a first-degree statutory rape charge.

Lewis denied the request for bond reduction.

Moffat is accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl several times, beginning in August 2014, when he was babysitting her and her sisters at their home.

Altman also filed a motion for a change of venue. That matter was continued to Oct. 26 to give the attorneys time to decide on a county they think would be appropriate to hear Moffat's case.

If the attorneys are unable to come to a decision, Lewis will choose the venue during the Oct. 26 hearing.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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