Man Burned Girlfriend's Face with Cigarette: Police

A South Bethlehem man burned his girlfriend’s face with a lit cigarette during an argument at her home last New Year's Eve, according to court records.

Brandon J. Moore, 25, of 419 Broadway, was arraigned on charges of domestic violence simple assault and harassment on Sunday. It was unclear from court papers why the arrest came more than eight months after the alleged New Year’s Eve attack at the woman’s Fiot Street apartment.

The woman told police that the argument started over “Facebook messages.” She said that when Moore put the lit cigarette to the right side of her face, she retaliated by pushing him in the back of the head, police said.

He then responded by punching her in the back of the head twice, causing her to fall to the floor, according to an arrest affidavit. Moore then fled the house before police arrived.

Arresting Bethlehem Police Officer Christopher Kopp said he observed a burn mark on the woman’s face just to the right of the corner of her mouth.

Moore was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail following his arraignment before on-duty District Judge James Narlesky.