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Brendan Depa has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by 15 years on probation for attacking Joan Naydich, his paraprofessional at Matanzas High School. The sentencing, delivered by Circuit Judge Terence Perkins, came 18 months after the incident. The courtroom was filled with supporters from both sides, including State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

Judge Perkins noted that although Depa was 17 at the time of the attack, this was not an isolated incident. Depa had a history of aggression and violence, including incidents at two group homes and on a bus. The judge emphasized that Depa’s autism was not the cause of his violent behavior and described the attack as senseless and extreme.

Depa’s criminal scoresheet required a minimum of 34.6 months in prison. He has already served 533 days, which means he will serve approximately 33 more months in prison with gain time before starting probation. Defense Attorney Kurt Teifke had argued for house arrest, highlighting Depa’s personal history and challenges, while Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark insisted on prison time.

Clark presented footage of the attack and had Naydich testify about her experiences. She argued that despite receiving treatment, Depa continued to show aggressive behavior and must be held accountable for his actions. The defense focused on Depa’s autism and his desire to avoid hurting others in the future, but did not provide witnesses from the school district to discuss what went wrong before the attack.

In the end, the judge sought a balanced sentence, acknowledging both the need for punishment and the complexities of Depa’s mental health issues.