A Florida man could face life in prison after he was accused of assaulting a 5-year-old boy in an attempt to "beat the gay" out of him. Andre Brown Jr, 33, of Davenport, was arrested on May 3, according to the sheriff's office. “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,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. Because Brown's alleged crime is considered a hate crime , prosecutors can pursue a life sentence , CBS12 reports. Investigators became aware of the alleged crime when a 9-year-old girl who was also in Brown's care called her mother to and told her he was viciously beating a 5-year-old boy. Andre Brown Jr, 33, of Davenport, Florida, is facing aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest charges after he allegedly tried to 'beat the gay' out of a 5-year-old boy in his care (Polk County Sheriff's Office) "I'm scared, he's whooping him so hard.…