Student who beat teacher unconscious after she stopped him playing Nintendo Switch pleads guilty
A student who beat a female teacher unconscious after she stopped him playing a video game on his Nintendo Switch has pleaded guilty.
In February, Brendan Depa, then 17, attacked his high school teacher, Joan Naydich, after he told him to stop playing the gaming console in class.
Depa, who weighs 270 pounds, was seen on video kicking and punching the teacher in the back numerous times at Matanzas High School before staff intervened.
Naydich was left unconscious after the altercation, subsequently being taken to hospital and treated after the attack.
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It has also been reported that Depa 'threatened to kill' the high school teacher during his arrest.
As Depa turned 18, he was charged with a first-degree felony charge of aggravated battery, after initially being charged as a juvenile, which would have carried a lesser sentence.
Appearing in court on Monday (30 October), Depa confessed to his crimes and now faces up to 30 years behind bars.
His sentence will be determined by Judge Terrence Perkins at a hearing in January.
"No contest", Depa said after Perkins asked him how he pleaded to the felony charge against him, according to Flagler Live.
While Depa could face a maximum term of 30 years in jail, there is also a possibility he may be handed just a period of probation.
The proceedings taking place in the new year will include witness testimony for both the prosecution and defense.
Depa’s attorneys have stressed the man's mental condition, arguing he wasn't competent to stand trial earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Flagler Live reported last month that Naydich has 'shown no interest in mitigating what penalties Depa might face', while they also report the teen got into a brawl in jail just last month.
Depa had a previous criminal record prior to his attack on the teacher earlier this year, having had three battery arrests before, as per the Post.
It was previously reported that Naydich personally confiscated the Nintendo Switch from Depa, though this is something she's denied doing in many interviews.
Following the attack, a GoFundMe page was set up for the teacher for 'support and encouragement'.
More than $104,000 has been raised to date, with the teacher penning: "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."
Callum Jones