Mason Codi Moore
Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
A former correction deputy with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Codi Moore, 32, was arrested Jan. 14 and charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony.
The charge stems from an incident involving a 4-year-old non-verbal autistic child, who allegedly suffered significant injuries while under Moore’s care.
A detective from the NCSO’s Criminal Investigations Division was called to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville on Jan. 8 in regard to
suspected child abuse that had occurred the day before. Significant bruising was reported by the director of the Child Protection Team, which didn’t match Moore’s description of how the child’s injuries had occurred.
Following an interview at the NCSO, investigators determined that the force used on the child exceeded the limits of what would be considered reasonable physical discipline.
According to the affidavit, Moore told investigators that the victim’s injuries occurred when the victim fell in the shower. The Child Protection Team informed officers that the injuries were not consistent with falling. They said the injuries were consistent with being struck with an open hand.
“As law enforcement officers, we’re held to the highest standards of conduct, and we take any allegations of abuse extremely serious, especially when they involve our most vulnerable citizens,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “The evidence in this case clearly showed that a serious crime was committed against a defenseless child.”
Moore was not charged a bond, instead released on his own recognizance at his first appearance. He is not to have any contact with the victim and may not have any unsupervised contact with minors.