Florida man accused of abusing boy, 5, to 'beat gay' out of him

Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel on May 4, 2026

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ORLANDO, Fla. — A Polk County man who told deputies he was trying to “beat the gay out of” a 5-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated child abuse for hurting that child, who suffered a fractured wrist and other injuries, and two others.

Andre Brown Jr., 33, of Davenport, was arrested Sunday and will face enhanced penalties because his actions are considered a hate crime, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office began its investigation when a 9-year-old girl under Brown’s care told her mom he was abusing her and two boys in the home, a sheriff’s office Monday release said.

“I’m scared, he’s whooping him so hard, I’m scared,” the girl said in a text to her mother.

The sheriff’s office did not say why Brown was watching the children or if they were related to him.

The children told deputies Brown was mad at the 5-year-old boy “for being gay” and slammed him on the ground multiple times. He then got upset with the two other children and began hitting all three of them with a belt.

Brown later admitted to deputies that he decided to hit the 5-year-old boy to “beat the gay out of him if possible, but since it wasn’t possible he would beat him more,” the release said.

That boy told authorities he was afraid of Brown and did not want to talk much about what happened. He had the worst injuries of the three: marks and bruising on his legs, arms, back and stomach; a fracture to his right wrist; and a contusion to his forehead. He had marks all over his body consistent with being hit by a belt, the sheriff’s office said.

The girl had bruises to her arms and the other boy had bruises to his arms and legs, according to the release.

“This was a brutal and hateful attack on a defenseless child. There is absolutely no excuse for it,” said Sheriff Grady Judd in a statement. “We will make sure justice is served and these children get the safety and support they deserve.”

When deputies attempted to remove Brown from the scene, he pulled away, became loud and began yelling slurs, the sheriff’s office said. He continued yelling and pulling away once placed in handcuffs, according to the release, and also was charged with resisting arrest.

Brown has a lengthy criminal history, including domestic battery strangulation, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping with intent to commit a felony, home invasion robbery with a firearm and battery on a law enforcement officer, the release said.

He is currently in custody at the Polk County Jail.

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