Florida Special Needs Student  Pleads No Contest In Attack  On Teacher’s Aide 

Published on November 2, 2023

Brendan Depa, the autistic student who assaulted a teacher’s aide, has pleaded no contest to the charges against him. Depa faces a minimum of 34.5 months up to 30 years in prison.

Circuit Judge Terence Perkins presided over the hearing.

 Before accepting the plea, Perkins requested that Depa take a few moments to review the plea with his attorney.   He asked the autistic teen if he understood the meaning of an open plea.  

“We haven’t agreed on like a sentence yet,” Depa answered.

Perkins then set Depa’s sentencing hearing for Jan. 31.

After the hearing, Teifke told The Daytona Beach News Journal that he would seek juvenile sanctions for his client, who was 17 -years- old at the time of the incident. Teifke stated that the juvenile system takes a more rehabilitative approach than the adult system.

“It’s not easy for an autistic child to be in a cage, but under the circumstances he is doing well,” Teifke told reporters.

The incident occurred on Feb 21 where the student attacked eacher’s aide, Joan Naydich  for allegedly asking him to stop  playing his Nintendo Switch. The incident, which was caught on surveillance camera, garnered international attention when the video went viral. 

“I hope he is sentenced to the furthest extent of the law,” Naydich wrote in a text message to Daytona Beach News- Journal reporters.

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