NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mother of the boy who police say shot his first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner at Richneck Elementary on Jan. 6 was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison and two years of probation after release.
WATCH: Abby Zwerner, the teacher who was shot at Richneck Elem., and the mother of the boy who shot her walk into court
Deja Taylor pleaded guilty back in June to two federal firearm violations: using illegal drugs while possessing a gun, and lying about her drug use when purchasing the gun.
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Federal agents searched her home less than two weeks after the shooting, according to court documents. The documents say agents found marijuana and a box of ammunition in her home, among other items. They also found marijuana when they searched Taylor’s mother’s home, where she was living at the time.
Additionally, on the ATF form she filled out when purchasing the firearm, she falsely said that she was not an unlawful user of marijuana or other controlled substances, documents say.
Since then, prosecutors have asked for a judge to revoke her bond after she tested positive for marijuana and cocaine eight times. Taylor’s legal team argued that despite facing a serious substance abuse problem, she was making progress. The judge allowed her to remain out on bond, stating that he was “appreciative” of Taylor’s efforts to get clean.
Her guilty plea came roughly five months after the shooting in January, in which police say her son, who was 6 years old at the time, shot his teacher Abby Zwerner during class. According to Zwerner’s legal team, she was shot in the hand and chest in her classroom and required four surgeries.
During Wednesday's hearing, the defense argued prison was not the answer to Taylor's substance abuse and was hoping for her to receive probation, but the judge said she's had too many opportunities to change things around.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors presented evidence showing Taylor was habitually using marijuana when she purchased the gun her son allegedly used on Jan. 6.
Prosecutors showed text messages that depicted her scope of marijuana use and how just 10 days before the incident at the elementary school, she also fired that same gun at her son's father.
Abby Zwerner also read her victim statement in the courtroom.
In it, she said her life would never be the same again and that the incident would not have happened had Taylor taken action.
The judge denied Taylor probation, stating this case cries for imprisonment and would not allow Taylor to self-surrender because of her substance use.
The judge is recommending her to treatment while she serves her sentence.
After the hearing, Taylor's attorney, Gene Rossi, said his client has accepted responsibility.
"She's incredibly remorseful, she's filled with guilt, and at no time did she intend or foresee the consequences of what she did," Rossi said.
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Taylor was facing a maximum of 25 years for the two federal firearm charges, though in a "position on sentencing" document filed last week, prosecutors requested 21 months. Taylor also pleaded guilty to a state child neglect charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on that charge on Dec 15.
