A Leesburg man is facing a felony charge of child abuse after allegedly striking a juvenile boy.
The boy had been in an argument at his home when he kicked a door on Monday, according to an arrest report form the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He left the home located in the 34600 block of Banks Avenue and was walking across South Haines Creek Road when 34-year-old Robert Allen Lewis drove up and jumped out of his truck. Lewis ran at the boy and struck him in the head. The boy fought back against Lewis and both of them ended up on the ground until he could get away and call 911. The boy told a deputy that Lewis attacked him after chasing him.
Lewis told the deputy that he had received a call that the boy was destroying the home. Lewis said he rushed home and saw the boy walking and stopped to take him home. He claimed he was struck by the boy with a hard plastic case before engaging in a fist fight to defend himself.
A woman who lives on the street where the attack occurred told the deputy that she saw Lewis charging the boy and punch him in the head. She said the boy dropped the items he was carrying and defended himself.
Based on the boy’s statement, his injuries and the statement from the witness, Lewis was placed under arrest and was taken to the Lake County Jail where he was being held without bond due to a probation violation. Lewis had been convicted of battery on Sept. 19 and had been placed on five years probation.
