Teen faces up to 30 years in prison after beating teacher because she took his Nintendo Switch
Brendan Depa has pled guilty to knocking Matanzas High School paraprofessional Joan Naydich unconscious.
Florida teen faces up to 30 years in prison after beating a teacher who confiscated his Nintendo Switch.
Brendan Depa pled guilty after horrifying footage emerged of him violently knocking Matanzas High School paraprofessional Joan Naydich unconscious in February.
The disturbing video shows Depa, then 17, throwing Naydich to the ground before stomping on her backside as she laid face down after the gaming console was taken from him.
He then proceeded to punch her back before several bystanders ran over and pulled Depa away from the teacher.
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The teen will have his sentence determined by Judge Terrence Perkins at a January hearing, as per the New York Post.
However, the outlet says he will be trialled as an adult after turning 18 while in custody.
He's been charged with first-degree felony charge of aggravated battery.
The Daily Mail says the maximum penalty for the charge is up to 30 years, however the minimum recommended prison sentence is just short of three years.
Depa, who stands at 6 ft 6, said 'No contest' when asked how he pleads to the charge.
The proceedings in the new year will include witness testimony for both the prosecution and defence.
However, Nayditch has no interest 'in mitigating what penalties Depa might face'.
It has also been reported that Depa threatened to kill the high school teacher during his arrest.
A GoFundMe page was launched following the incident to support Naydich.
“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 this has caused," she said in the description.
The GoFundMe page has raised more than $104,000 (AUD $161,897) so far.
Earlier this year, two students pled guilty to murdering their Spanish teacher after receiving a bad grade.
Willard Miller, 17 and Jeremy Goodale, 18, pled guilty to first-degree murder for beating to death their teacher Nohema Graber, 66, as per The Guardian.
Miller and Goodale were both 16 when they were charged with the murder of the Fairfield High School teacher, whose body was found in a park, hidden under a tarp, wheelbarrow and railroad ties on 3 November 2021.
The Spanish teacher had been bludgeoned to death by a baseball bat.
Miller was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole only after at least 35 years, while Goodale's sentencing will take place in mid-November, 2023.
Charisa Bossinakis