Reprieve For Teacher Who Had Sex With Teen

Florida Judge Won't Punish Teacher For Violating Probation On Sex Charge

(CBS/AP)  A Florida judge has ruled that a teacher who admitted having sex with a middle school student has violated her probation, but he has decided not to tack on extra punishment to her sentence.

The judge found Debra Lafave violated her probation when she chatted with a 17-year-old co-worker about sex. But the judge says it was neither a "willful nor substantial" breach.

Lafave struck up work-place friendship at a Tampa-area restaurant where she was waiting tables, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella.

She talked about her personal life, including sex and boyfriends, with her teenaged female co-worker, according to a Department of Corrections report.

The probation department kept tabs on Lafave at the restaurant regularly. But in November 2007, the probation department did learn that she had this ongoing friendship with a teenaged girl from about October 2006 until November 2007. And that's when they brought the charges against her because it's a violation of one of the 48 conditions of her house arrest, TruTV In Session correspondent Beth Karas told CBS' The Early Show.

Lafave smiled and pumped her fist after hearing the judge's ruling. Lafave's attorney, John Fitzgibbons, said authorities were targeting his client because she was within days of completing two years of supervised release.

Scott Fitzpatrick, the attorney for the 17-year-old girl at the heart of the new accusations, says their conversations were nothing more than "girl talk."

"It was, you know, small talk, chit-chat, between themselves," Fitzpatrick told The Early Show. "It was typical employee and co-worker-type conversations."

Restaurant owner Scott Griffin also came to Lafave's defense.

"I never saw her act inappropriately or do anything to suggest that she would do anything inappropriate," said restaurant owner Scott Griffin.

Lafave pleaded guilty to having sex with a student in 2004.

In 2005, the victim's mother pressed for a plea deal so her son wouldn't have to testify, reports Cobiella.

She apologized to the boy and to his family and said she was undergoing therapy.

Lafave is serving three years house arrest and seven years probation.

[logicanada]

It''s truly amazing that this is a story, yet the gang-rape of Jamie Lee Jones at the hands of Halliburton contractors in Iraq goes virtually uncovered.

[kattyclayz]

I don''t think that she should have gotten off with house arrest anyway. The charge was rape, she was convicted on 48 counts, she should be in jail.

[michellem99-2009]

Yer right a male he be locked up. A woman should as well. Paws off. Mum used this term *jail bait*. That is what it is.

[Krazcarl]

NOTHING but a pretty *** the world is full of them.

[sgtrds]

apparently rape is justified if you are "hot". you only get house arrest. what a joke.

Posted by RealTalk5950 at 01:18 PM : Jan 10, 2008

It really hasn''t much to do with her being hot. I remember being 14 years old (barely) and in the grip of raging hormones. At that age I and any of my male friends, would have jumped at the chance to have *** with an UGLY female teacher.

[sgtrds]

Believe me, if I had a teacher that looked like that when I was in school, I would not have told anyone for fear that I wouldn''''t get any more of it.

Posted by dmotte at 11:35 AM : Jan 10, 2008

RAmen!

[realtalk5950]

tomanyt is correct in that many males have done hard prison time for *** with 14 year old girls.


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Posted by NameVerified at 12:46 PM : Jan 10, 2008

Correct. So why shouldn''t this woman? because she''s some blonde hoochie pedophile who can''t get any from a man her own age?? apparently rape is justified if you are "hot". you only get house arrest. what a joke.

[dmotte]

Godseyesore only wishes that he could have a piece of tail that looks like that.

[dmotte]

Believe me, if I had a teacher that looked like that when I was in school, I would not have told anyone for fear that I wouldn''t get any more of it.

[godseyesore-2009]

She is a pedophile and should be treated like any other pedophile, end of story.