MITCHELL SCHUMAN HAWKING LOTUS PICKLEBALL HATS WHILE HE, ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATORS UNDER INVESTIGATION… LOTUS HOA Takes Action…
UPDATE 3:47 p.m. — Mitchell Schuman has just hired a PR person and a criminal defense attorney. Ray Hennessey who is part of a “crisis communication” firm, issued this statement on behalf of Criminal Defense Attorney Matt Shaffran: “We understand the public interest in this case, but we will not litigate it in the media. Mr. Schuman is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and we ask that everyone allow the legal process to unfold before drawing conclusions.”
UPDATE 3:05 p.m. — BocaNewsNow.com has learned that the violation meeting has been cancelled. According to a source, “there are Lotus board members trying to protect their friends.” Developing…
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher | BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has now assigned the Lotus child attack case to detectives who will determine whether additional charges should be filed against Mitchell Schuman — and whether additional participants in the alleged battery on a child should also be charged. The move comes after BocaNewsNow.com repeatedly questioned PBSO as to why Schuman received just a “notice to appear” on a simple battery charge when video appears to show him — and several other adults — engaged in activity that traditionally lead to handcuffs and jail booking in Palm Beach County. Allegations of battery and depriving someone of a communication device are serious crimes in Florida.
As BocaNewsNow.com reported exclusively, Schuman is accused of throwing a water bottle at a child who was allegedly performing “wheelies” on his e-bike. Schuman and several other adults are later seen denying the child access to his cell phone while they physically restrain him. The incidents are captured on video. Watch the videos, and read our previous Lotus coverage, here.
Meantime, BocaNewsNow.com has learned that Schuman and several other participants are in the process of being sanctioned by the Lotus Homeowners Association. In what is known as Florida HOA Justice, the HOA is set to revoke the vehicle barcodes of multiple families living in Lotus. Those barcodes are the difference between unfettered access into the gated community of $1M+ homes and having to wait in line to show identification to security, like house cleaners and pet groomers. It also means the participants won’t have access to the community’s amenities, like the clubhouse or pickleball courts.
While under investigation, Mitchell Schuman is now apparently selling Lotus pickleball hats. Social media images provided to BocaNewsNow.com show that he and his wife are promoting the Lotus lifestyle with the tag line: “Because Showing Off For The Lotus Team Is All Part Of The Game.”
If I were his lawyer Id be telling him to take all that s–t down and disappear from public as much possible. Contriteness would go over far better than douchey-ness
GREAT, A HOA WITH A BACKBONE
Imagine how many past incidents like these happen w/o video tapes? Does this kid get the benefit of the doubt otherwise?
The sorty would have gone something like this:
“Well, we have 7 adult witnesses saying the kid was doing wheelies. And we had to restrain him from beating up a poor post-surgery senior citizen.”
Looks like the Lotus HOA board has major issues and the rest of them not up for re election need to resign ASAP.
I was born in 1967 on Long Island New York and can tell you they would be finished! My parent and their Friends would put a end that nonsense quick both from me and them
I think this is ridiculous. The kid was out of control as well. Quit feeling sorry for this rich kid whose parents are responsible for his behavior.
The kid was riding a bike doong wheelies. How is that a rich spoiled kid? He was outside playing and had a group of min 6 grown men restraining him. God forbid a kid actually is outside playing. Wtf Todd. The kid has zero ability to defend himself besides to get the phone to call for help.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Well Tammy the behavior of the adults is in no way warranted as acceptable. However Todd’s point of view is that these kids have zero respect for others as their mommy’s and daddy’s are obnoxious and arrogant people who teach their children nothing about respect for others. Now, we need to know the facts. If the kid was obstructing traffic and/or mouthing off to others disrespectfully; then you can see how people would be annoyed with this kid. PBSO never comes out in instances like this because they are spread so thin. Bottom line is…let both parties apoligize and call it a day. Repremand the adults with holding their access to the facilities. Have the kid be more respectful of others in the community and move on. Let them all be friendly neighbors and cut the law suit crap. There is so much more in life to worry about.
Seriously? The kid was riding his bicycle and that justifies being attacked by a group of entitled adults??? In what world is that possibly acceptable?!
Mitch (and Deb) Schuman hired an old neighbor of their’s when they used to live in Dakota, Matt Shafran, who’s an amateur criminal defense attorney. He’ gonna need more than Matt Shafran to weasel his way out of this one.
“entitled to the presumption of innocence…”
It’s hardly presumptuous when it’s all on video.
Mitch, you can’t weasel your way out of this one. Throwing money at a PR firm and amateur criminal defense attorney to manage your self inflicted crisis, won’t change your reputation which you have forever damaged. Good luck bud.
Too bad that big mouth obnoxious sounding woman did not offer to help the boy and show him some compassion instead of yelling to him about “jevy”! Because of her awful rude big mouth I feel sorry fir her kids, if she has any. Hey lady, would it have killed you to offer the boy your phone to call his mother? You could have shown him some compassion and been a role model for all the adults there. Awful you took the low road instead of the high road. Really awful.
I agree with MikeS. He hired the Dakota street lawyer to defend his actions. Another Wanna be tough guy. Karma got Mitcheee and Deb. Both are power hungry thinking they run Boca and lotus. Now you see the real side of them. They should move back to the Dakota. That neighborhood condones bad behavior….
How about shipping them back to New Yauk. These transplants are ruining SoFla
What I see from the two videos all the “Adults” did assault a minor, cause child a dude on that kid, and committed thief of the cell phone. All should be arrested and not go to “Juvey” but should be put in prison for their actions.
That’s what they get for attacking a helpless young man!
Why would parents want to live in this community if you have a child that rides a bike or will get a bike when they get big enough? Do you have to pay for extra security for children to feel safe outdoors? Can the adults involved be forced to move to an adult only gated community?
Obviously the incidents video has been edited what happened before the water bottle was thrown. The child was wearing a GoPro and it was most likely running the whole time. What the adults did was wrong but what happened prior to instigate it.
Unless the child PHYSICALLY assaulted someone first, which was already admitted he did not, there is NOTHING that justifies assault, battery, intimidation, threats, theft and kidnapping of a MINOR!!!!! Get a serious fkn grip KEN.
What is the matter with people? What has happened to our country? Cannot a child rise a bike without some adult deciding to discipline him? What right does this adult have to play cop? It’s a good thing the child was white, or the adults might have put on their white hoods to hang him!