Overview
- Andre Brown Jr., 33, who deputies arrested Sunday in Davenport, now faces aggravated child abuse charged as a life felony designated a hate crime, along with resisting arrest.
- The case began after a 9-year-old girl in his care texted her mother that she was scared, which led deputies to interview the children.
- In a sworn affidavit, deputies say Brown admitted beating the 5-year-old “for being gay” and said he would “beat the gay out of him.”
- Deputies documented severe bruising across the boy’s body, a fractured wrist, and a forehead contusion, and they reported bruises on the two other children.
- Under Florida law, a hate-crime designation can increase penalties, and in this case investigators say it elevates aggravated child abuse to a life felony now pending prosecution.