The Florida highschool scholar accused of violently attacking a instructor’s aide for taking his Nintendo Swap pleaded no contest in courtroom Monday, in keeping with on-line data.
Brendan Depa, now 18 and being charged as an grownup, faces a first-degree felony aggravated battery on an elected official or schooling worker cost that could possibly be punishable by as much as 30 years in jail.
Depa was 17 on Feb. 21 when he allegedly attacked a instructor’s aide at Matanzas Excessive College in Palm Coast, in an incident that was caught on video and went viral earlier this yr.
Based on WESH-TV, {the teenager} is taken into account a particular wants scholar. Depa’s lawyer, Kurt Teifke, advised the Daytona Seaside-Information Journal that his consumer is autistic and ”doing nicely,” whereas nonetheless being held within the Flagler County Jail on $1 million bond.
Brendan Depa together with his attorneys, March 9, 2023, throughout a listening to earlier than Decide Chris France, on the Kim C. Hammond Justice Middle in Bunnell. (David Tucker/Information Journal/USA Right now Community)
Joan Naydich walked along with her council as Brendan Depa was escorted again to the holding cells, March 9, 2023, on the Kim C. Hammond Justice Middle. Naydich sough a everlasting injunction towards the coed accused of attacking her. (David Tucker/Information Journal/USA Right now Community)
The instructor’s aide, Joan Naydich, was granted a everlasting injunction for defense towards repeat violence towards Depa in March. Within the petition for the injunction, Naydich mentioned she suffered two damaged ribs and a number of bruises on account of the incident.
Circuit Decide Terence Perkins set Depa’s sentencing listening to for Jan. 31, in keeping with the Daytona Seaside Information-Journal.
”The open plea to the courtroom means Depa’s protection lawyer has not reached any settlement with prosecutors on the attainable sentence,” the media outlet reported.
”What does that imply, an open plea?” Perkins reportedly requested the teenager.
”We haven’t agreed on, like, a sentence, but,” Depa responded.
FLORIDA STUDENT WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED TEACHER’S AIDE FOR TAKING NINTENDO SWITCH PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Deputies say the feminine instructor’s aide took the Nintendo Swap away from Brendan Depa throughout class, which made him upset. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Surveillance video launched by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace allegedly reveals the 6-foot-6, 270-pound scholar working as much as the instructor’s aide, pushing her to the bottom, after which persevering with to punch and kick her.
The instructor’s aide is seen on the bottom for a number of minutes earlier than getting up with the assistance of others.
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Court docket paperwork obtained by Fox Information Digital present that Depa has three prior misdemeanor battery costs, in March 2019, April 2019, and June 2019. All of the misdemeanor costs stem from the thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which is situated in Hillsborough County.
For these costs, courtroom data present that Depa accomplished a program throughout the Division of Juvenile Justice.