AUSTIN — An Austin man has pleaded not guilty after being accused of kicking a child in a wheelchair.
Patrick William Lowe, 43, entered the pleas May 29 in Mower County District Court, where he's been charged with domestic assault-subsequent violation and malicious punishment of a child, both gross misdemeanors.
Lowe has been released from jail in lieu of $30,000 bond; his next court date has been set for Oct. 10.
The charges stem from an incident alleged to have occurred May 18 in Austin's Todd Park . The next day, a caller told police that the victim, who has cerebral palsy, had accidentally driven his wheelchair over Lowe's foot. An argument ensued, the report says, culminating in Lowe yelling at, then kicking the victim in the groin.
According to the complaint, Lowe is the boy's personal care assistant, paid by a company to provide care.
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An officer checked with the alleged victim, who reportedly confirmed the story. The boy said when he asked Lowe to stop picking at his acne, Lowe became angry and told the boy to ride home on his own. The teenager said Lowe grabbed him and engaged the brakes on the wheelchair so the boy couldn't leave; instead, he put the wheelchair in reverse and accidentally ran over Lowe's lower leg.
According to the criminal complaint, Lowe then kicked the teenager in the groin.
The boy's mother said she was concerned about Lowe's temper, but hadn't seen any physical abuse until May 18.
Lowe admitted he and the boy had argued, and confirmed that the wheelchair had driven over his leg. He said when he tried to show the teenager his leg, he "may have hit" the victim's groin, the report says.
A check of Lowe's criminal history shows a conviction for violating an order for protection .
