Autistic teen sentenced to 5 years in prison for attacking teacher’s assistant

An Autistic Florida pupil will serve five years in prison for knocking a high school employee unconscious last year. EVERYBODY reported that Brendan Depa attacked a teacher’s aide on video after she took his Nintendo Switch gaming console.

Details of autistic teen’s attack on teacher’s assistant

According to NBC NewsThe 18-year-old was diagnosed with autism. He received a five-year prison sentence and fifteen years of probation on August 6, according to the Seventh Judicial District Court in Flagler County.

In October, Brendan Depa pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated assault relating to the February 2023 attack. Joan Naydich at Matanzas High School, according to WKMG.

According to PEOPLE, video evidence shows Joan Naydich taking Brendan’s Nintendo Switch before he lunged at her, knocking her to the ground and punching and kicking her. The footage also shows Naydich losing consciousness as Brendan continues to violently attack her.

An arrest report states that Depa is six feet six inches tall and weighs 270 pounds. He is said to have punched Joan Naydich fifteen times.

Brendan’s teacher’s aide and mother testified in court

The judge held a sentencing hearing in May but postponed his decision, saying he needed to hear from more witnesses. However, the state argued that Depa should serve a significant prison sentence.

According to WKMG, the woman he attacked also spoke in court, supporting the prison sentence.

Naydich testified in court that the incident had a serious impact on her life and mental health, explaining that it caused anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to NBC News.

“My life will never be the same again. Brendan Depa’s actions that day cost me my job of almost 19 years, my financial security, my health insurance,” Naydich said.

A psychologist testified that Brendan acted aggressively and deliberately. However, his lawyers argued that he had a number of disabilities and that triggers often led to outbursts.

WKMG reports that Brendan’s mother, Leann Depa, took the stand and shared statements about her son. Leann explained that Depa had a history of violent behavior but had warned the school about his triggers.

“I told the school that hunger was a trigger, noise was a trigger, rejection was a trigger, being corrected in front of others was a trigger, and electronic devices were a huge trigger,” Leann Depa testified.

What will Brendan Depa do next?

Judge Terrence Perkins ordered the Department of Corrections to assess Brendan Depa’s mental health and create a care plan, and banned him from contacting Naydich.

Brendan’s mother, Leann, criticised his sentence, saying the court had punished him because of his race. She also argued that his school had failed to develop a behaviour plan for him.

“I think he needs help. Absolutely. I think he needs help. And I think he needs treatment but I don’t think he needs to be in a prison where he’s going to be taken advantage of or harmed,” Leann explained.

Attorneys representing Leann’s family filed a lawsuit against the district this year, alleging school officials neglected to provide proper support for her son, which they say contributed to the attack, according to a complaint collected by Tampa’s WFTS-TV.

WKMG announced that Brendan Depa will serve 15 years of probation along with his prison sentence, including mandatory treatment for his disabilities.

RELATED: Former NYPD cop sentenced to 25 years to life for intentionally freezing his 8-year-old autistic son to death