A Florida teen named Brendan Depa, who assaulted his high school teacher’s aide over a Nintendo Switch, has been sentenced to five years in prison. This incident occurred on February 21, 2023, at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. The victim, Joan Naydich, suffered five broken ribs, hearing loss, and a severe concussion as a result of the attack. Depa, who is now 18, pleaded no contest to felony aggravated battery last year.
During the sentencing, Circuit Judge Terence Perkins handed down the punishment to Depa, who was seen wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. The maximum sentence he faced was 30 years in prison, but he was ultimately sentenced to five years behind bars and 15 years of probation. After serving his prison term, he will be placed in a group home.
Despite Depa’s defense attorney arguing for a probation-only sentence due to his autism spectrum disorder and age at the time of the assault, Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark emphasized the brutality of the attack. She mentioned that Depa punched Naydich around 15 times while she was unconscious, and the severity of the assault warranted prison time.
The violent incident was captured on surveillance footage and went viral. In the video, Depa can be seen chasing Naydich into the hallway, shoving her to the ground, and repeatedly punching her. His mother blamed the school district for not providing adequate support to address his behavioral challenges and previous violent outbursts.
Following the sentencing, Depa’s mother expressed concern about her son’s well-being in prison and emphasized the need for treatment and help rather than incarceration. She also filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging that they failed to create a suitable treatment plan for her son.
This case sheds light on the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing support to individuals with disabilities to prevent such violent incidents from happening in the future. It also raises questions about the role of schools and educational institutions in handling students with behavioral challenges effectively. Hopefully, this case serves as a reminder to prioritize mental health resources and support systems in educational settings to ensure the safety of both students and staff.
