Virginia: Mom of Boy Who Shot His Teacher Faces 2 Years in Prison for Child Neglect

The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia has been sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect, according to CBS News.

This incident occurred almost a year ago, causing shock in the nation and leaving the city of Newport News shaken.

The sentencing, delivered by Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile, deviated from state sentencing guidelines, imposing a stiffer punishment than the jointly recommended six-month sentence in a plea deal.

Deja Taylor, the mother, had already received a 21-month federal prison sentence in November for using marijuana while possessing a firearm, which violates US law.

The cumulative effect of her state and federal sentences amounts to nearly four years behind bars.

The Virginia boy accessed his mother's 9mm handgun from her purse, hidden on top of a dresser.

Climbing onto a drawer to reach it, he concealed the weapon in his backpack and pocket before shooting his first-grade Virginia teacher, Abby Zwerner, in front of the class. Initially claiming she had secured the gun with a trigger lock, investigators found no evidence of one.

Virginia Mom's Sentence

This marks Taylor's second prison sentence related to the shooting. In November, she received 21 months for federal charges, including marijuana use while possessing a firearm and making false statements about drug use during the firearm purchase.

Facing up to five years for child neglect, prosecutors recommended a six-month sentence, falling within state guidelines.

The judge sentenced Taylor to five years with three years suspended, including two years of probation upon release, involving substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and mental health treatment, per ABC News.

The state sentence will run consecutively to her federal 21-month term.

Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, criticized the sentence as "excessive" and "harsh," citing a perceived lack of remorse and disregarded mitigating factors.

"I was arguing domestic abuse, substance abuse, and mental health. Those were sort of the key issues that I thought were mitigating factors," Ellenson said, adding that there were instances where the system may have failed the Virginia mother.

Virginia School Shooting

Abby Zwerner, the victim, suffered gunshot wounds to her left hand and upper left chest, breaking bones and puncturing a lung, FOX News noted.

She filed a $40 million lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, claiming administrators ignored warnings about the boy having a gun.

The boy, restrained by a school official after the shooting, admitted to accessing his mother's gun, saying, "I shot that (expletive) dead."

Abby Zwerner, who has undergone five surgeries and spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, claims the incident left her physically and financially devastated.

Zwerner, who no longer teaches, is suing for justice and accountability from the school system.

She battles post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, attending therapy while expressing fear of working with children.

The lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools seeks redress for the alleged negligence that led to this tragic incident.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Mother of young boy who shot teacher gets 2-year prison sentence - From CBS Evening News