A Florida student, Brendan Depa, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for attacking a school employee who had taken his Nintendo Switch. Depa, now 18, admitted to one count of aggravated battery against an education worker, according to court documents from the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Flagler County.
At the time of the incident, Depa was 17. He was also given 15 years of probation. During the sentencing, Judge Terence Perkins noted that Depa showed no remorse for the assault, which occurred on February 21, 2023, at Matanzas High School near Daytona Beach.
Video footage shows Depa charging at the employee, Joan Naydich, knocking her to the ground, and then kicking and punching her repeatedly. Naydich lost consciousness and testified that she now suffers from anxiety and PTSD due to the attack.
Depa’s mother testified that her son has mental health issues and was upset about his electronics being taken away. A court evaluation found he has autism and other conditions. She believes he needs treatment but not prison, as she fears for his safety in prison.
She also claimed the school district failed to provide the necessary support for her son’s special needs, leading to the assault. Her family is suing the district, accusing it of not following the individualized education plan designed for Depa. The school district has not commented on the allegations.