Florida teacher's aide Joan Naydich gets permanent injunction against Brendan Depa, 17, after brutal assault over Nintendo Switch
PALM COAST, FLORIDA: A Florida teaching aide has received a lifelong protection order against a 6'6" teenager who savagely beat her. Brendan Depa, 17, a special needs student, attacked Joan Naydich, 57, of Palm Coast at Matanzas High School on Tuesday, February 21, knocking her unconscious and striking her at least 15 times.
Earlier, it was reported that the teaching aide took away a Nintendo Switch from Depa. He is now being charged as an adult, infuriating him which led to the attack. Naydich, however, has since denied those allegations saying she never took them away.
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'I just want to make sure this doesn't ever happen to anybody else ever again'
Depa is charged as an adult with aggravated battery which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. "I just want to make sure this doesn't ever happen to anybody else ever again," Naydich told the Wesh2.
In March, Naydich wrote on GoFundMe about the life-changing event. "No one should ever have to endure what I went through that day. My children shouldn’t have had to bear seeing their mother in that condition either. I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, but with the help of my children and friends, I will not quit until I am me again," she wrote.
'I never took or touched any device'
She even contested the claims of taking Nintendo Switch from Depa. "For the record, I never took or touched any device. This information was incorrect and may have been said by the other party when being taken into custody." She said, “It was the teacher that was threatening to not have it be utilized at school; I had nothing to do with it."
In the attack, Naydich had suffered broken ribs and concussions and loss of consciousness due to brain injury. Apart from the traumatic events, she also suffered "psychological consequences." Speaking about her recovery, she said, “It's slow. Every day is just a new day."
Depa allegedly assaulted Naydich, his paraprofessional at the school last month. Depa was seen sprinting out of the classroom after Naydich and shoving her so forcefully that she was knocked unconscious, according to surveillance footage. He was seen kicking her, getting on top of her and punching her repeatedly while she was on the ground.
When the court determines it is necessary for the petitioner's protection, permanent injunctions may be granted in Florida. Unlike restraining orders, permanent injunctions have no time restrictions. Depa's defense attorney did not object to the injunction for protection as per a report. On being asked what would happen to the victim if convicted, she said, "I couldn't even guess on that one, I won't even speculate."
