NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher at Richneck Elementary School was sentenced to two years in prison on a state child neglect charge on Friday afternoon.
Deja Taylor was already serving nearly two years on federal charges of using marijuana while owning a gun. Friday's sentencing is for a felony child neglect charge in Newport News Circuit Court. She pleaded guilty to the charge in August.
The judge did not hold back in reprimanding Taylor, and told the court "A parent's ultimate job is to keep their child safe and from bad influences, Miss Taylor has abdicated most if not all of those responsibilities."
The judge sentenced Taylor to five years total, but with three years suspended. She will also serve two years of probation when she is released. Taylor's state prison sentence will be served consecutively, meaning it will begin after her federal prison sentence is completed.
Even though Taylor did not pull the trigger, a judge ruled she is liable for the “reckless decisions" that led to the shooting.
Following the shooting that left her son's teacher, Abby Zwerner, in the hospital for weeks, investigators found an ounce of marijuana in Taylor's bedroom, and evidence of frequent drug use in her text messages.
While having a certain amount of marijuana is legal in Virginia, Taylor lied about her drug use on her gun registration.
The decision to keep the drugs and gun in her home, while also being aware of her son's behavioral issues at school, makes her liable for felony child neglect, according to the ruling judge.
The judge also questioned how remorseful Taylor is.
He pointed to Taylor's public statements about her son's frustrations with his teacher who he later shot, Abby Zwerner. He also said Taylor was not forthright in telling investigators where she kept her gun, and offered 'misleading statements.'
James Ellenson, Taylor's attorney, said an appeal is possible.
"There's a couple of things from a legal perspective, I don't even know that we can even take that into account," said Ellenson, referring to Taylor's public statements. "That was not evidence that was presented in court today so I think the judge is looking outside of what evidence had been introduced to court in making his decision."
Taylor has a protective order in place with her son, and will still be allowed to see him in supervised visits with the child's guardian.
Once released, Taylor will be placed on probation for two years. She is required to undergo a psychological evaluation, counseling for drug addiction, and parenting classes.