CLEARFIELD – A Grampian man will stand trial on 2,840 charges related to his long term abuse of a young girl.
Devin John Moore, 38, is charged with 500 felony counts of indecent assault person less than 13-years-old, 780 counts each of corruption of minors (felonies), endangering the welfare of children (felonies) and indecent assault person less than 16-years-old (misdemeanors).
After a preliminary hearing during centralized court on Wednesday, District Judge James Glass ruled all charges should be sent to the court of common pleas for further disposition. Moore is being held in the county jail in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the abuse came to light after the girl’s sister reported on May 28 that she had been assaulted by Moore because she did not complete chores to his satisfaction. He struck her in the back of the head, neck and other portions of her body.
Moore is charged with simple assault and harassment in connection with those actions. These offenses were also sent on to the county court Wednesday.
After she and her sister were taken into protective custody, the first victim revealed that she had been inappropriately touched by Moore from the time she was in fourth grade through ninth grade. This involved daily touching of her breasts and buttocks under her clothing, she said.
The victim’s sister was aware of the abuse and had mentioned it in her argument with Moore during which she was assaulted.
Moore’s wife, Sara Moore, became aware of his actions about a year ago, it says in the criminal complaint. After this, she reportedly drew up a written contract with Moore stating he promised to stop sexually touching the girl. Both girls said the “contract” was in a locked box in Moore’s bedroom.
After Devin Moore was taken into custody, he refused to answer questions, but said he and his wife had separated and he was planning on going to Costa Rica.
On May 29, a search warrant was conducted on the home. Police found a burn barrel outside the residence which was still warm to the touch. The burned remains of paper were on top of the ashes in the barrel.
When Sara Moore returned to their residence, she was asked if the contract was destroyed. She responded that she wasn’t going to answer any questions until she consulted an attorney.
Police found the locked box in the bedroom closet as the girls had described. There was no contract in it.
Multiple devices including computers and cell phones were seized. A notebook in which Sara Moore talked about “being uncomfortable with him being around” the girl was also found.
“It’s going to be hard to curb that and fix it because he doesn’t feel like he is doing anything wrong,” she wrote according to police. She later went on to say, “I’m starting to get upset with her about things even though it is him that has caused everything and caused my insecurities and lack of trust in him.”
Sara Moore is charged with five felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child and five misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She waived her right to a hearing Wednesday. She is free on $50,000, unsecured bail.
