Sentencing delayed for former MHS high schooler who attacked paraprofessional

The defense team needs more time to prepare its expert witnesses who have prior commitments to other attorneys trying death penalty cases through March, according to court documents.

By Sierra Williams
| 9:23 p.m. January 29, 2024

Brendan Depa, 17, has been charged with aggravated battery on an education employee and could face 30 years in prison. Photo by Sierra Williams.

Palm Coast Observer
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Sentencing for the former Matanzas High School student who attacked a MHS paraprofessional has been delayed, according to Flagler County court documents.

Brendan Depa, 18, entered an open plea last October to his charge of first-degree felony aggravated battery, leaving sentencing in the hands of Circuit Judge Terence Perkins. Depa is facing 30 years in prison.

On Feb. 21, 2023, Depa, 17 at the time, was arrested for attacking MHS paraprofessional Joan Naydich. Survelliance video of the incident showed Depa knocking Naydich unconscious, stomping on her and punching her repeatedly.

Depa's sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 31, but has been delayed as the defense team asks for more time to prepare expert witnesses.

No new date has been set yet, but Depa's lawyer, attorney Kurt Teifke, filed the motion to continue as its expert witnesses have been unavailable to prepare for Depa's case.

In the motion, Teifke states that the experts are booked through March at the earliest due to "their prior commitments to other attorneys litigating death penalty" cases.

The motion also states that the prosecutor's anticipated expert has likewise been tied up in other litigation recently and "has yet to conduct an evaluation and/or prepare a report."

The motion to continue the sentencing to a later date was filed on Jan. 19 and Perkins approved the request on Jan. 24.