Collier man accused of child abuse

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EAST NAPLES, Fla. A 63-year-old man accused of child abuse is in custody, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.

John Rigsbee, of Naples, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly spraying a child in the face with cleaning supplies and severely beating him, deputies said.

Deputies responded to Rigsbee’s home on Andrew Drive around 6:35 p.m. in reference to a domestic disturbance.

They interviewed the child, who claimed Rigsbee sprayed him in the face with Febreze after becoming agitated with him over his school work, according to arrest reports.

Afterward, Rigsbee struck him in the face, pointed a gun to his head and asked him if he wanted to “play a game,” deputies said.

He pistol whipped the boy and made him get on his knees to “pray to God he doesn’t kill him,” arrest reports show.

Rigsbee then briefly left the room. While he was gone, the child texted his friend to call 911, deputies said.

Police reports don’t indicate how the child is related to Rigsbee.

Authorities have been to Rigsbee’s home at least four times over the last six months, neighbors said.

The child was taken to North Naples Community Hospital with a possibly dislocated jaw. He also needed stitches on his chin, deputies said.

The Department of Children and Families took custody of the child.

Rigsbee is now in custody facing a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm with no bond set. He had also been arrested in May 2014 for child abuse.

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