A Florida man could face life in prison after being accused of assaulting a 5-year-old boy in an attempt to 'beat the gay' out of him. Andre Brown Jr, 33, of Davenport, was arrested on May 3, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Brutal and hateful attack
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the incident, stating, 'This was a brutal and hateful attack on a defenseless child. There is absolutely no excuse for it. We will make sure justice is served and these children get the safety and support they deserve.' Because Brown's alleged crime is considered a hate crime, prosecutors can pursue a life sentence, as reported by CBS12.
How the abuse came to light
Investigators became aware of the alleged crime when a 9-year-old girl, also in Brown's care, called her mother and reported that Brown was viciously beating a 5-year-old boy. 'I'm scared, he's whooping him so hard. I'm scared,' the girl reportedly said, according to a police report. Deputies interviewed the children and learned that Brown had been physically abusive toward the young boy specifically because he was 'mad at him for being gay.'
'During screenings with the children, they advised that Brown was mad at the 5-year-old boy 'for being gay' and began slamming him on the ground multiple times,' the sheriff's office said in a statement. 'He then got upset with the two other children for an alleged past occurrence and began striking all three children with a belt.'
Injuries and charges
Witnesses claimed that Brown slammed the boy onto the ground and whipped all three children with a belt. The 5-year-old had marks consistent with the described assault, including a fractured wrist, bruises on his limbs, torso, and back, and a contusion on his forehead. The girl had bruising on her arm, and another boy had bruises on his legs and arms. Officials noted the 5-year-old suffered the most severe injuries.
According to deputies, Brown reportedly repeatedly told them he was trying to 'beat the gay out of [the 5-year-old] if possible.' When deputies attempted to arrest Brown, he allegedly resisted and yelled slurs until he was handcuffed and taken for processing. He faces charges of aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest. His arraignment is scheduled for June. Court records do not indicate if he has entered a plea as of this report.
