by A Florida teacher’s aide who was allegedly assaulted by a 17-year-old high school student was granted a permanent order of protection Thursday.
Brendan Depa, 17, was charged as an adult with a felony count of aggravated assault on an elected official or education employee and is accused of assaulting a teacher’s aide who he said took his Nintendo Switch during class time on Feb. 21 in 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 application for a protective injunction, Naydich said she suffered two broken ribs and multiple bruises as a result of the incident.
FLORIDA STUDENT WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED TEACHER’S AID TO MAKE NINTENDO SWITCH DECLARES INTOLERANCE
Brendan Depa with his attorneys Thursday, March 9, 2023 during a hearing before Judge Chris France at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell where Joan Naydich is seeking a permanent injunction against the Matanzas High School student accused of attacked. (David Tucker\News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Joan Naydich walks with her counsel as Brendan Depa is escorted back to the holding cells Thursday, March 9, 2023 after a hearing before Judge Chris France at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell where Naydich is seeking a permanent injunction against Student Matanzas High School is accused of assaulting her. (David Tucker\News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Neither Depa nor Naydich made statements during the hearing, according to the report. Depp’s lawyer, Kurt Teifke, said he would not contest the injunction.
Surveillance video released by police shows Depe running toward the teacher’s aide, pushing her to the ground, then continuing to punch and kick her.
The teacher’s aide is seen on the ground for several minutes before she manages to get up with the help of others.
Depp pleaded not guilty on March 3 to felony battery on an elected official or education employee.
THREE PRIOR CHARGES STUDENT WHO ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED TEACHER FOR GIVING NINTENDO SWITCH HAS THREE PRIOR CHARGES
Deputies say a female teacher’s aide took his Nintendo Switch during class, which made him upset. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Brendan Depp looks around as he enters the courtroom, Thursday, March 9, 2023, for the alleged Feb. 21 assault of a teacher’s aide at Matanzas High School. (David Tucker\News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Judge Terence Perkins ordered Depa undergo a mental health examination at the request of his defense lawyer who said he did not believe the teenager was competent to stand trial.
The order prohibits Depa from contacting Naydich and also prohibits him from coming within 500 feet of Matanzas High School or its residents. Additionally, it prohibits Depa from being within 500 feet of Palm Coast Lanes, where the teacher’s aide watches her children bowl.
Depa also cannot knowingly come within 100 feet of Naydich’s car.
Speaking to the media, Naydich said the order made her feel “somewhat” safer.
FLORIDA STUDENT CHARGED FOR ASSAULTING TEACHER’S AID WHO TOOK NINTENDO SWITCH FOR CLASS AS AN ADULT
Brendan Depa looks around as he enters the courtroom Thursday, March 9, 2023 for a hearing before Judge Chris France at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell where Joan Naydich is seeking a permanent injunction against the Matanzas High School student who accused of assaulting her. (David Tucker\News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK)
Brendan Depa stands with his attorneys, Thursday, March 9, 2023, during a hearing before Judge Chris France at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell, where Joan Naydich is seeking a permanent injunction against the Matanzas High School student who accused of assaulting her. (David Tucker\News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK)
“I just want to make sure this never happens to anyone else again,” Naydich said.
While Depa accused her teacher’s aide of taking her Nintendo Switch, after the court hearing Naydich told the media that this is not true.
“No device was removed, it was the teacher threatening not to use it at school,” Naydich said. “I had nothing to do with it.”
Naydich also said her recovery is “slow,” adding that “every day is just a new day.”
He was also asked about a possible punishment for Depa, and said “I couldn’t even guess about that. I won’t even speculate.”
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A teenager at a Florida high school was arrested Tuesday after allegedly assaulting a staff member who took his Nintendo Switch during class. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Depa has three prior misdemeanor battery charges;with one in March 2019, another in April 2019 and a third in June 2019. The charges stem from the state’s 13th Judicial Circuit, located in Hillsborough County.
Records show Depa completed a program at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for those charges.
