A Florida man could face life in prison after he was 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 sheriff’s office.
“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,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Because Brown’s alleged crime is considered a hate crime, prosecutors can pursue a life sentence, CBS12 reports.
Investigators became aware of the alleged crime when a 9-year-old girl who was also in Brown’s care called her mother to and told her he 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 in Brown’s care and were reportedly told that he had been physically abusive toward the young boy and had specifically beaten him 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.”
Witnesses speaking to investigators claimed that Brown slammed the boy onto the ground and whipped all three of the children with a belt.
In an investigative report, deputies noted that the boy had marks on his body consistent with the described assault. He also reportedly had a fractured wrist and bruises.
The girl who spoke to deputies had bruising on her arm, and another boy had bruises on his legs and arms. Officials said the 5-year-old had the most severe injuries, including limb, torso, and back bruising and a contusion on his forehead.
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 tried to arrest Brown, he allegedly resisted arrest and yelled slurs until he was handcuffed and taken for processing.
He is facing aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest charges. His arraignment is scheduled for June. Court records do not indicate if he has entered a plea as of this report.
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