Man to stand trial on child-abuse charges

On Monday, a judge ordered a Neelyville, Missouri, man to stand trial for allegedly abusing his 2-year-old daughter.

Accompanied by his attorney, Ted Liszewski of the public defender's office, Thomas Leeroy Moore again appeared before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for a preliminary hearing.

An earlier hearing was halted in June during the testimony of the 31-year-old's wife, Misty Dawn Moore. During her cross-examination, Misty Moore invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and the state was given time to seek immunity for her before proceeding with the hearing.

Instead of Monday's hearing resuming with Liszewski continuing his cross-examination of Misty Moore, the hearing began anew after Butler County assistant prosecuting attorney Paul Oesterreicher filed a second amended information with the court.

That information alleges on May 14, Moore "knowingly caused [his daughter], a child less than 18 years old, to suffer serious physical injury by hitting her in the face with his hand and by beating her with a belt and open hand, leaving several bruises and red marks all over her body."

The information also alleges between November and May 14, Moore "knowingly caused [his daughter] ... to suffer serious emotional injury by a pattern of verbal and physical abuse by beating her with hands and a belt, dumping cold water on her, urinating on her, wiping her face with a dirty diaper, calling her names and telling her she should be dead."

After hearing testimony from two witnesses Monday, Bloodworth found probable cause to bind Thomas Moore over to stand trial and ordered he appear at 9 a.m. Aug. 12 before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for arraignment on the charges.

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UPDATE:

The Daily American Republic filed the following story in 2017:

Abuse charge reduced, dad pleads guilty

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH

Associate Editor

A former Neelyville, Mo., man who had been accused of abusing his then 2-year-old daughter pleaded guilty Tuesday for a misdemeanor endangerment charge.

Accompanied by his attorney Katie New with the Public Defender's Office, Thomas Leeroy Moore was to appear before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for a review of his case in which he was charged with two Class B felonies of child abuse.

Instead, Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher said, the 34-year-old pleaded guilty to the Class A misdemeanor of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child after the state filed an amended information with the court.

It alleged on May 14, 2014, Moore "acted with criminal negligence in a manner that created a substantial risk to the body and health of a child, less than 17 years old, by hitting said child."

After accepting Moore's plea, Pritchett sentenced him to 180 days in the Butler County jail and granted credit for all the time he already had served.

"He spent over six months in the county jail" while waiting trial, said Oesterreicher, who indicated Moore's plea and sentence were "agreed upon between the parties."

The outcome was "not the result I would have liked, but I had witness problems," Oesterreicher said.

Moore was supposed to stand trial on Oct. 4, but the state's "main witness did not show for trial," Oesterreicher said.

That witness was Moore's ex-wife, Misty Moore, who reportedly contacted Oesterreicher on Oct. 3 and told him she was out of state and would not be back for the trial.

Misty Moore, after having been granted immunity, testified at her then husband's preliminary hearing in 2014.

At that time, she alleged her husband had struck their daughter with an open hand and belt, leaving several bruises and red marks on her body.

The woman also accused him of dumping cold water on her, urinating on her, wiping her face with a dirty diaper, calling her names and telling her she should be dead instead of her twin brother, who died at 4 months old.

During the hearing, the woman also admitted to not seeking help for her daughter or telling anyone about the alleged abuse out of fear of her husband.

Also testifying during Moore's preliminary hearing was a Poplar Bluff pediatrician, who indicated the toddler had suffered what she classified as severe abuse.

The child, the doctor said, had what she described as multiple areas of bruising, as well as multiple areas that looked red.

The doctor further said "pattern bruising" was found on parts of the toddler's body, including linear lines, which crisscrossed her chest.

The doctor confirmed the toddler's injuries could have created a substantial risk of death due to the possibility of abdominal trauma, such as a lacerated liver or spleen. Blood clots also were possible, she said.