DAVENPORT, FL — On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 33-year-old Andre Brown Jr. of Davenport for aggravated child abuse, a life felony enhanced due to the abuse being classified as a hate crime. He was also charged with resisting arrest (M1).
According to the PCSO, the investigation began after a 9-year-old girl in Brown’s care contacted her mother and reported that Brown was abusing her and two other children in the home. The girl texted her mother, “I’m scared, he’s whooping him so hard, I’m scared.”Screenings with the children revealed that Brown was angry at the 5-year-old boy “for being gay” and slammed him on the ground multiple times. Brown then became upset with the other two children over an alleged past occurrence and struck all three children with a belt.
Deputies observed marks on the 5-year-old boy consistent with being hit with a belt. The boy disclosed that he was afraid of Brown and did not want to say anything further. The 9-year-old girl sustained bruising on her arms, and one of the boys sustained bruising on his arms and legs. The 5-year-old victim had the most significant injuries, including marks and bruising on his legs, arms, back, and stomach, a fracture to his right wrist, and a contusion to his forehead.
Brown told deputies he decided to “whoop” the victim because the victim was gay. He stated he would “beat the gay out of him if possible, but since it wasn’t possible he would beat him more.”
Due to Brown maliciously beating the child and causing a fracture to his right wrist based on the belief that the child was gay, the offense was enhanced as a hate crime.
When deputies attempted to remove Brown from the scene, he pulled away, became loud, and began yelling slurs. He continued yelling and pulling away after being placed in handcuffs.
“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,” said Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Brown has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Burglary, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Kidnapping with Intent to Commit a Felony, Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm, Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Person, Domestic Battery by Strangulation, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (x4), Resisting an Officer with Violence, and numerous other offenses.
SOURCE: POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
