A Florida teen arrested after brutally attacking his teacher over a Nintendo Switch will be charged as an adult. However, she says the attack has nothing to do with the gaming device.
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Brendan Depa, 17, was arrested last week after allegedly striking and attacking Joan Naydich. A disturbing attack video went viral on social media. Depa was charged with aggravated battery and a felony after allegedly assaulting Joan on February 21 at Matanzas High School. In the video, Naydich is walking down the school hallway when Depa punches and kicks her repeatedly while she is unconscious.
BREAKING REPORT: 17 year-old who ‘viciously beat his teaching aide unconscious’ held on $1 MILLION bond…
Will be charged as an adult – Faces up to 30 years in prison – Was arrested THREE times for battery in 2019..pic.twitter.com/pZAJzhaykv
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) February 28, 2023
Naydich said she didn’t take Depa’s Nintendo Switch despite reports and said she was ‘traumatized’ over the entire situation. ‘For all you keyboard warriors, I want to set the record straight. I never took the Nintendo Switch from him. From anyone that’s read or heard differently, I’ve been told this was, unfortunately, misinformation,’ she said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
After the attack, A GoFundMe account was set up for Naydich to pay for her medical expenses: ‘As the process continues, there will be many updates along the way! Your thoughts and prayers through all of this are appreciated more than you know.’
‘Your contributions are lessening that burden and I’m truly grateful! I’m hopeful that the awareness of this incident being spread far and wide will prevent anyone else from ever dealing with the trauma, physical healing and disruption of everyday life that this has caused. It’s touching to know that so many care. This certainly wasn’t how I saw my son’s senior year turning out for our family.’
According to a court affidavit, Depa hit Naydich 15 times in the back and several times on the back of her head. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly stated that the entire situation could have resulted in a homicide, and Depa allegedly spat at Naydich while handcuffed, threatening to “kill her.”
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There were multiple reports that Depa is a special education student and had a previous arrest record in 2019 after being charged with battery thrice. Sheriff Staly said he wanted to charge the teen as an adult, given the circumstances of the case. According to Staly, Depa will turn 18 in six months which also influenced his decision for the adult charge.
‘This student is just six months shy of age 18, and it was also a brutal attack on this teacher. Fortunately, this didn’t result in a fatality. This could be a homicide we are talking about.’
The state attorney’s office said in a statement that Depa “actually and intentionally touch or strike (the victim) against (her) will and in doing so used a deadly weapon, and/or intentionally or knowingly caused great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement,”
Naydich has been released from the hospital and is expected to recover at home.