Former NFL player Scott Mersereau of Boca Raton, Florida was arrested on February 18 for allegedly punching a 15-year-old teenage boy he accused of throwing eggs at his house. Mersereau, 51, faces a child abuse charge. He was taken to Palm Beach County Jail and was released on Sunday after posting a $3,000 bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.
According to the arrest report, the alleged abuse occurred on Saturday at a neighborhood in the 1600 block of SW 6th Avenue. Mersereau’s house was egged on Friday and the following day, the former NFL player reportedly went to the victim’s home down the street and accused him of throwing the eggs.
The teen denied the allegation and told older man that he didn’t know who he was, but that didn’t convince Mersereau, who allegedly started yelling at the 15-year-old and threatened to kill him. The teen cursed at the older man and told him to go away, but Mersereau pushed him and asked him to take him to see his mother.
According to police, the argument escalated when Mersereau grabbed the teen by his clothing and pushed him, and then he reportedly punched him twice in the face and a third time in the back. The boy’s mother heard the commotion and ran outside the house where she reportedly saw her son getting punched by Mersereau.
Several other witnesses reportedly saw the incident and tried to pull the older man away from the teenager. Mersereau finally let go of the teen and walked away, saying he wanted to talk to the boy’s father about his “vulgar language.”
Paramedics reportedly took the boy to West Boca Medical Center to treat a bruise on his head and a headache. Police were called to the teen’s home and later arrested Mersereau on a child abuse charge. Officers who performed the arrest said Mersereau was “belligerent and intoxicated.”
In the state of Florida, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18. Aggravated child abuse is a first degree felony that, depending on the severity, is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. The punishment is typically more severe if the offender has a prior record of criminal child abuse activity.
Mersereau played for the New York Jets as a defensive end for seven seasons, starting in 1987. He recorded 19 sacks and three interceptions over the course of his career. His career ended in 1992 after a severe back injury forced him to retire. News sources say he now works as financial advisor and coaches football at Boca Raton Community High School in his free time.