East Texas

BY KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

BEEVILLE — A former Dogwood City pastor convicted of molesting small children while in his day care has died in prison.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons confirmed that Jefferson Marion Moore Jr., 60, (Brother Jeff) died in his cell in the McConnell Unit late last month.

“Officers were doing a routine head count on May 26 about 5:23 a.m. when Moore’s cellmate told them Moore was unresponsive in the cell,” she said.

Lyons said officers began CPR and called EMS.

Moore was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

“There is still an investigation ongoing, but it appears he died of natural causes. There were no signs of foul play,” she said.

Moore was convicted in July 2006 for raping a 6-year-old during “nap time” at his day care facility in Dogwood City.

While awaiting trial and out of the Smith County Jail on bond, Moore made several threats to Tyler Morning Telegraph reporters covering the case and was warned by Tyler police about his actions and told to stay away from the reporters and the newspaper.

The prosecutor told jurors in the case that a child rapist was finally discovered in the community and law enforcement found that he had been raping little girls for some time.

Moments after the jury returned a guilty verdict on the sexual assault charges, he attacked the prosecutor in the case.

Moore was serving a life sentence and was not eligible for parole for 30 years.

Jefferson Moore
(File photo)