Teacher Who Had Sex With Teen Arrested

By MITCH STACY,

Posted: 2007-12-05 06:22:24

Filed Under: Crime News, Nation News

TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 5) - A former teacher serving house arrest for having sex with a 14-year-old student was arrested Tuesday on charges of violating her probation, state records show.

According to a Department of Corrections report, Debra Lafave discussed her personal life and other subjects with a teenage waitress at a restaurant where both worked. One of the terms of her probation was that she was not allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors without permission.

Photo Gallery: Lafave's Criminal History

Hillsborough County Jail / AP

Debra Lafave is shown in her booking photo Tuesday. She was arrested for allegedly discussing her personal life with a female co-worker. Her probation does not allow her to have contact with minors without permission.

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Lafave, 26, is serving three years of house arrest and seven years of probation after pleading guilty to having sex with the boy in a classroom and her home in June 2004.

She was arrested Tuesday morning and released from jail on her promise to appear in court. It was not immediately clear when that hearing would occur.

Defense attorney John Fitzgibbons said he was disappointed that Lafave's probation officer ordered her arrest for what he called an "insignificant" violation. He said Lafave and the 17-year-old girl had a "typical workplace conversation that women have with their women colleagues."

"It was a workplace friendship — no more, no less," he said.

State attorney's office spokeswoman Pam Bondi said prosecutors would not comment on Lafave's arrest until the hearing.

Probation records show Lafave worked at a Tampa-area restaurant until last month, when her probation officer ordered her to quit. She now works as a receptionist at her mother's barbershop.

Fitzgibbons said he and his client were surprised by the arrest. "I don't think anyone felt this was a huge issue," he said.

He said Lafave has done so well on her first two years of house arrest that he plans to ask a judge to convert the final year to straight probation, which is less restrictive.

Photo Gallery: Teachers in Trouble With the Law

Corbey R. Dorsey, Tri-City Tribune / AP

Kelsey Peterson was accused in November of having an intimate relationship with a 13-year-old student at the Nebraska school where she taught math. The student, who was an illegal immigrant from Mexico, may be granted a visa.

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Other terms of her probation include sex offender treatment, random drug testing and 200 hours of community service, which she has completed.

Lafave pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery in November 2005. She could face up to 15 years in prison for a probation violation.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-12-04 16:53:32

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