Andre Brown Jr., Davenport, Florida man beats 5-year-old boy for being who he believed to be ‘being gay’ as caretaker is charged with child abuse and hate crime.
A Davenport, Florida man with an extensive criminal history is accused of abusing and beating multiple children, including a 5-year-old boy, who he deemed to be be gay.
Andre Brown Jr., 33, was arrested Sunday, May 3, following an investigation that began when a 9-year-old girl in his care reached out to her mother for help.
Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office say the girl first told her mother that Brown was abusing her and two other children in the home. She later sent a text message that read, ‘I’m scared, he’s whooping him so hard, I’m scared.’
Targeted boy because of perceived sexuality
During interviews with the children, investigators say the children reported that Brown became angry at a 5-year-old boy ‘for being gay’ and began slamming him to the ground multiple times.
Deputies say Brown then turned his anger toward the other children, hitting all three with a belt over what he claimed was a past incident according to FOX13.
When deputies located the children, they say all three showed signs of abuse. The 5-year-old boy had the most severe injuries, including extensive bruising across his body, a fractured wrist and a contusion on his forehead.
The other children also suffered bruising to their arms and legs, according to investigators.
Brown according to an arrest affidavit admitted to beating the child because he was ‘mad at the boy,’ for being what he believed to ‘being gay’. Investigators say he told them he would ‘beat the gay out of him if possible, but since it wasn’t possible, he would beat him more.’
Offered Sheriff Grady Judd, ‘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.’
Brown faces a charge of aggravated child abuse, a life felony enhanced due to the severity of the attack, which was designated as a hate crime. He was also booked on a charge of resisting arrest.
Investigators say Brown has an extensive criminal history that includes violent offenses such as aggravated battery, kidnapping, home invasion robbery and domestic violence.
Not immediately clear is how Brown came to be the caretaker of the children.
