A Florida student, Brendan Depa, was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting a school employee after she confiscated his Nintendo Switch last year. Depa, now 18, pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated battery on an elected official or education employee, according to court records from Flagler County’s Seventh Judicial Circuit Court. In addition to his prison sentence, Depa was given 15 years of probation.
Lack of remorse and impact on the victim
During the sentencing, Judge Terence Perkins highlighted Depa’s lack of remorse for the February 21, 2023, assault at Matanzas High School, near Daytona Beach. Video footage showed Depa charging the employee, Joan Naydich, and knocking her unconscious by repeatedly kicking and punching her. Naydich testified in court that she continues to suffer from anxiety and PTSD due to the assault. “My life will never be what it was before,” she said.
Mental health concerns and legal actions
Depa’s mother, Leanne Depa, testified about her son’s mental health issues, which she said were triggered by the removal of his electronics. A court-ordered evaluation confirmed that Depa has autism and other conditions, though he was found competent to stand trial. “I think he needs help, and I think he needs treatment,” Leanne Depa stated, expressing concerns about her son being in prison.
The family has sued the school district, accusing officials of failing to provide adequate support for Depa’s special needs, thereby contributing to the assault. The district has not commented on the lawsuit, and the superintendent did not respond to requests for comment.
