NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A judge will allow Deja Taylor to remain on bond after federal prosecutors said she failed multiple drug tests and didn't show up to some of her meetings.
The decision came in a Thursday afternoon court hearing after prosecutors said the 26-year-old mother violated her bond agreement as she awaits sentencing for federal gun charges she pled guilty to.
Taylor pleaded guilty to lying on her gun permit paperwork in 2021 about using marijuana at the time she bought her 9mm handgun. That same handgun, according to Newport News Police, was used by her son to shoot his Richneck Elementary School teacher, Abby Zwerner.
Taylor did not speak as she walked in and out of the courthouse.
In court, federal prosecutors told a judge the mother failed multiple drug tests, which had positive results for marijuana, and once for cocaine and failed to show up to counseling.
Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, argued that, for a chronic user of marijuana, the drug can live in the body for up to 30 days, and that the test results may not have indicated consistent use and violations.
According to Taylor's probation officer, Taylor had a negative drug test on Sept. 11 and she had shown up to her latest phase testing, showing some progress.
The judge sided with Ellenson, saying the recent negative test proved she was making some progress. As a condition of keeping her bond, if Taylor has a positive test, the judge will be notified immediately and her bond will be revoked.
"It really does not just got to do with marijuana," the judge said when addressing Taylor in court. "It has to do with not abiding by the rules. I'm relying on your representation that you're willing to do it. It is strongly in your interest that you abide by your conditions."
Outside the courthouse, Taylor's grandfather, Calvin Taylor, spoke with 13News Now. He called the nationwide attention on his granddaughter's case "sensationalized."
"She's been punished enough," Calvin Taylor said. "I think similar cases like this, and there hasn't been one in 20-some years of a student shooting a teacher. However, there have been recent situations where toddlers and kids have gotten ahold of parents' weapons. Their cases are over and done with. Why is this one being drug on?"
Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, said he believes there may have been better results had his client received mental health support earlier, but added that is no fault of anyone in the court system. He said he stated it in court, correlating with his push for mental health assistance for his client's behavior disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Calvin Taylor shrugged when asked if he is happy with the judge's decision.
"I would've been okay with whichever way they decided today," he said. "Because guess what... if the judge gave me a chance, I'd need to make the best of it. Whatever that is, I can't say give me another chance, but they decided to do that and that's great, so maybe she'll make the best of it."
When 13News Now asked about Taylor's son was doing several months after the shooting, Calvin Taylor said he is doing well and getting the help he needs, adding Deja Taylor was just helping him with his homework recently.
When asked if he believes Deja would still have a relationship with her son following her sentencing, he said, "Yes. I hope despite what's happening, she'll eventually be able to be a full-time parent in his life again, because that's the goal. I never wanted to be a parent at 63, but guess what... I have to do what I have to do, because the state, this community, they weren't looking out for his best interest."
The mother of the Richneck Elementary student currently faces 18 months to two years in prison when she is formally sentenced on Oct. 18. Last month, Taylor also pleaded guilty to state charges of child neglect and is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on Oct. 27.