Brendan Depa, the 18-year-old Florida student who was caught on video attacking a teacher’s aide, wrote a heartfelt apology letter before being sentenced to five years in prison. The letter, which expressed remorse for his actions, was a surprise to the judge, who had previously stated that Depa had never shown any regret for his behavior.
The incident, which occurred in February 2023, left teacher’s aide Joan Naydich with serious injuries, including five broken ribs, a severe concussion, and hearing loss. Despite the severity of his actions, Depa had never publicly expressed remorse, according to the judge.
However, in his apology letter, Depa took responsibility for his actions and apologized for the harm he had caused. The letter was shared with NewsNation by Gene Lopes, Depa’s tutor, who has been working with him to help him understand the consequences of his behavior.
Lopes spoke highly of Depa, saying that he would welcome him into his home and that he had been a blessing to work with. Leanne Depa, Brendan’s mother, also shared letters from a hospital and group home that were willing to accept her son as an alternative to prison time.
Despite the efforts of those around him, Leanne Depa expressed concern that her son may not fully understand the severity of his situation. “I really don’t think he understands what he’s facing,” she said in an exclusive interview on NewsNation’s “Banfield.”
