'Beat the gay out of him:' 5-year-old attacked in hate crime case, Polk sheriff says

[Munu]

‘Beat the gay out of him:’ 5-year-old attacked in hate crime case, Polk sheriff says
News 6 Orlando

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Davenport man was arrested after beating a 5-year-old boy in what has now been described as a hate crime, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

In a release, deputies said that the investigation kicked off after a 9-year-old in the man’s care contacted her mother, advising that he was abusing her and the other two children in the home.

During screenings, the children explained that the man — identified as 33-year-old Andre Brown — had gotten mad at the 5-year-old “for being gay” and slammed him on the ground several times, deputies added.

“He then got upset with the two other children for an alleged past occurrence and began striking all three children with a belt,” the release reads. “Deputies made contact with the 5-year-old boy, who had marks all over his body, which were consistent with being hit with a belt.”

Investigators reported that the 5-year-old had the most significant marks and bruising on his legs, arms, back and stomach, also sustaining a fracture on his right wrist and a contusion to his forehead.

However, the 5-year-old victim told investigators that he was afraid of Brown and didn’t want to say anything else, the release states.

Meanwhile, Brown reportedly told deputies that he decided to beat the victim because he was gay, stating he would “beat the gay out of him if it was possible, but since it wasn’t possible, he would beat him more.”

...

How was the kid gay? Was he even gay? The answer is -- IT DOES NOT MATTER!

[Deuxcents]

1. The kid is 5 years old! He probably barely knows his address. The man deserves no mercy

[niyad]

2. Question: With his lengthy criminal background, WHY were those

children in his care? WTAF???

[LoisB]

4. Probably mom's unemployed boyfriend.

[ShazzieB]

12. Almost certainly.

It seems overwhelming likely to me that this pos was the mom's boyfriend. The article doesn't say that in so many words, but it also doesn't say he was a relative or a friend, just that the children were "in his care." I'd be quite surprised to learn that he was NOT the boyfriend. I've read too many stories about kids being abused or even killed while while in the care of a boyfriend or stepfather. This kind of thing is depressingly common.

[LoisB]

17. The whole affair is just so sickening. I doubt this was the first time he laid his

hands on those children.

[Maraya1969]

3. I wonder what kind of attractions this guy is trying to hide from himself.

[BeneteauBum]

6. That was my first thought

So many times they loudest detractors are hiding something.

Peace ☮️

[calimary]

8. Exactly.

Probably a snake pit the size of his house.

[58Sunliner]

5. Horrific.

I'd like to see him get a nice long prison sentence.

[Randomthought]

7. So can someone beat the hate out of this asshole.

[Joinfortmill]

9. I suspect a different kind of abuse may also have been going on.

[niyad]

14. A dreadful, but all too likely, thought.

[ShazzieB]

15. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions.

This pos has an extensive criminal record that includes many violent acts (Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Battery, Battery 2nd Offense, Aggravated Battery on Pregnant Person, Felony Battery, Domestic Battery Strangulation, Battery-Causing Bodily Harm, Dating Violence, Battery Touch/Strike, Battery on LEO (x4), Resisting an Officer w/ Violence), but no nention of sexual assault on a person of any age. I suspect he's just a mean, hateful, nasty piece of work who reacts to anything that displeases him with violence. Not every evil, violent person is a pedophile.

Note: The above partial list of Brown's criminal offenses is from the following source: https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/2026/05/04/davenport-man-arrested-for-child-abuse-penalty-enhanced-due-to-hate-crime

[ShazzieB]

10. This crime has been defined as a hate crime.

The story left some questions in my mind, so I googled and found an article with some additional details: https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/2026/05/04/davenport-man-arrested-for-child-abuse-penalty-enhanced-due-to-hate-crime

Due to Brown maliciously beating the child and causing a fracture to his right wrist for the belief of being gay, this crime is classified as a hate crime, and has been enhanced one degree.

I presume the "enhancement" means he'll be eligible for a stiffer penalty to which I say; "Good." With his extensive criminal record, he'll probably be going away for a very long time.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. ""

[Stargazer99]

13. This damn society does not help women how to know an abuser but are willing to blame her while making

it difficult to survive as a single mother

[niyad]

16. You are quite correct. And I should have put my question more

clearly. With that scum's record, why the fuck wasn't he in prison where he belonged?

[Ray Bruns]

18. What a psychopath.

[OldBaldy1701E]

19. Paging Mr. Hammurabi? Paging... Mr Hammurabi! (n/t)

[ms liberty]

20. Nationwide free/subsidized childcare policies would stop some of this

We are so NOT putting children and families first in this country. If we were, we'd invest in making accredited and professional universal child care available for every child.

Instead women are forced to rely upon anyone they can get to stay with their kids while they're at work or other obligations. Sometimes 'anyone' is a completely unsuitable ahole, but there's no other choice. Not sure if that is the case here, but I would not be surprised.