U Florida teacher’s aide who was allegedly attacked by a 17-year-old high school student, was granted a permanent order of protection on Thursday.
Brendan Depa, 17, has been charged as an adult with felony aggravated battery on an elected official or education employee and is accused of attacking a teacher’s aide who he says took his Nintendo Switch during class on February 21 at Matanzas High. School in Palm Coast, Florida. According to WESH-TV, the teenager is considered a special needs student.
According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the teacher’s aide, Joan Naydich, was granted a permanent order of protection against repeated violence against Depa on Thursday.
In the petition for the protective order, Naydich said she suffered two broken ribs and multiple bruises as a result of the incident.
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Neither Depa nor Naydich made any statements during the hearing, he said the report. Depa’s attorney, Kurt Teifke, said he would not contest the injunction.
Surveillance video released by police shows Depa running up to the teacher’s aide, pushing her to the ground, and then continuing to punch and kick her.
The teacher’s assistant is seen on the ground for several minutes before she could get up with the help of others.
Depa pleaded not guilty on March 3 to the felony count of aggravated battery on an elected official or education employee.
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Circuit Judge Terence Perkins ordered Depa undergo a mental health examination following a motion by his defense attorney who says he does not believe the teenager is competent to stand trial.
The injunction prevents Depa from contacting Naydich and also prevents him from being within 500 feet of Matanzas High School or its residents. It also prohibits Depa from being within 500 feet of Palm Coast Lanes, where the teacher’s aide watches her children’s bowls.
Depa may not even be aware within 100 feet of Naydich’s car.
Speaking to the media, Naydich said the injunction made her feel “a little” safer.
“I just want to make sure this never happens to anybody again,” Naydich said.
While Depa accused the teacher’s assistant of removing his Nintendo Switch, after the court Naydich told the media that it is not true.
“There was no device brought, it was the teacher who threatened not to have it used at school,” said Naydich. “I had nothing to do with her.”
Naydich also said his recovery is “slow,” adding that “every day is just a new day.”
She was also asked about a potential punishment for Depa, and said “I couldn’t even guess that. I wouldn’t even speculate.”
Depa has three prior misdemeanor battery chargeswith one in March 2019, another in April 2019, and a third in June 2019. The charges stem from the 13th Judicial Circuit of the state, located in Hillsborough County.
Records show Depa completed a program at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for those charges.