LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. A 14-year-old Broward County girl pleaded no contest in adult court to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the May 23 beating death of her 79-year-old grandmother at her Lauderdale Lakes home, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

Officials said Sofia Koval He was immediately sentenced to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice’s maximum risk commitment program, the state’s highest level of sanctions for juveniles. According to this sentence, Koval will be detained for up to three years and then released on supervised release until he turns 21. Because Koval is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to be deported after completing his sentence.

Court records obtained by Local 10 News on Wednesday show the sentence is effective immediately.

The teen was charged with manslaughter as an adult and transferred to the North Broward Office. On October 2.

The judge, who appeared in court on the same day, found probable cause for the accusation and decided to hold Sofia without bail, with the agreement of both the defense and the prosecution.

The fatal beating occurred May 23 at an apartment in the 4100 block of Northwest 41st Street in Lauderdale Lakes, according to Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies.

It was claimed that Sofia was left at home with her grandmother. That night, deputies said Yevheniia Koval had multiple bruises on her body. He died from his wounds.

An autopsy determined the victim’s cause of death was homicide. Sofia’s father, who is also the victim’s son, said his mother was a sweet woman and never hesitated to help others.

A family friend who identified herself as Ms. Johnson told Local 10 News in May that the beating was “something out of character” for the Ukrainian teenager.

“He went through a lot because he wanted his mother who was in the UK. He can’t come here,” Johnson said.

Authorities said there were no warning signs before the fatal beating.

In court, Koval’s father, the victim’s son, described the situation as “a very, very difficult situation”, saying he had lost both his mother and daughter. He gave his full support to the plea agreement, thanking his legal teams and the judge for handling the case.

Although she now has an adult criminal record, authorities said Sofia received juvenile sanctions as part of the negotiated plea deal.

The sentence allows Judge Thomas Coleman, who presided over the adult case, to retain jurisdiction. He warned that he could face up to 15 years in adult prison if he violated the terms of his sentence.

Koval has been in custody since his arrest. Prosecutors filed the manslaughter charge in adult court on Oct. 1.

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