A former professional football player has been charged with child abuse for allegedly hitting a child with autism in the face.
Prechae Rodriguez played college football at Auburn but his past has nothing to do with what he has been accused of this week.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said a 9-year-old, non-verbal student hit Rodriguez with his hand at the Eisenhower Exceptional Center earlier this month, and Rodriguez responded by punching the student in the face and knocking the student to the ground.
The teacher and the student were walking out of the gym when the student slapped Rodriguez. That’s when the teacher punched the child in the face, causing the child to fall to the ground.
The school district said the incident was reported immediately and Rodriguez has been terminated.
After an investigation, Rodriguez was arrested on Monday.
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“Mr. Rodriguez was removed from the school while the investigation was going on and has now been terminated from the district,” a spokesperson for Hillsborough County Public Schools said. “We are deeply disturbed by the charges. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority.”
Rodriguez was hired in August 2023, and had no other issues during his employment, according to Hillsborough County schools.
“I am disgusted by the actions of this individual who was not only in a position of authority and trust but was given the responsibility to protect our most vulnerable,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “No child, under any circumstance, should be subject to this level of violence.”
Rodriguez is facing one count of child abuse. This is an active investigation.
“There is no place for the abuse of children in our schools or in our community, and our detectives will continue to work to ensure that all of our students are protected,” Chronister said.
Rodriguez was a standout receiver for the Tampa Bay Storm and several teams in the Canadian Football League after his career at Auburn came to an end.
