Teacher pleads guilty to sex with student, avoids prison time
Debra Lafave
Debra Lafave pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts stemming from a sexual relationship with a middle-school student.
By Emanuella Grinberg
Court TV
Former middle school teacher Debra Lafave will avoid prison for a number of sexual dalliances with a 14-year-old student after pleading guilty Tuesday to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.
Less than two weeks before Lafave, 25, was set to face her teen victim at trial, the former Tampa schoolteacher agreed to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation for having sex with the student in her home, in a classroom and in a car in June 2004.
Dressed in a conservative black suit, Lafave quietly replied "yes" as Hillsborough Circuit Judge Wayne Timmerman asked if she agreed to several conditions as a registered sex offender.
Included in the conditions are a curfew and treatment in an outpatient program for sex offender
Lafave must also remain at least 1000 feet from schools, parks and other places where children congregate. She cannot possess pornographic material "related to her deviant behavior" or have unsupervised visits with children under 18.
Lafave, who faced 15-year sentences on each count had she gone to trial, made a brief statement in which she apologized to the court, the young man and his family.
"I accept full responsibility for my actions," she said.
Defense attorney John Fitzgibbons, who previously said he was preparing a mental-illness defense on his client's behalf, indicated that Lafave was taking medication for a number of mental-health issues, but assured the court that they did not affect her ability to understand the proceedings.
Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney Michael Sinacore said the victim's family asked for the plea in order to spare themselves the ordeal of a trial.
"The victim's family indicated they wanted the case over with. Intense media in this case has put the victim in more of a spotlight than could have been anticipated," Sinacore said at the hearing. "We do respect their request, and that is why we have rescinded our earlier position."
Earlier plea negotiations broke off in July when prosecutors refused to back off from potential prison time for Lafave
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This pisses me off had it been reversed and the teacher had been male he would have got 15 years .... the crime is the same the punishment should be also
Whilst I am all in favour of sexual equality, I feel this may be one place where it may be rational to make exceptions because the sexes are not naturally equal. (Although I think you're saying that while the law treats both equally, the interpreters of the law should but don't, which is a fair point....)
However, in the case of underage sex, am I right in thinking it is treated as if the offender rape the victim? That given, how often are women accused and found guilty of rape? It's not easy for a woman to rape a man -regardless of his age. There has to be "an element of willingness" there. not so for a man to rape a woman.
All that said, I think the whole law sucks. Whilst we need to protect our children, they are not as naive as the law allows for, and sometimess the adults who are prosecuted are.
Wish I had a teacher like that when I was 14 sad
It is statutory rape when it is consentual but with a minor, either male/female or female/male.
I'm with VRB. With all the hormones going on she wouldn't have had to look as good as this one, for me to get interested. There was a time when upper crust dads would take their sons to learn how it's done from courtesans. I think she should get a bonus for teaching over and above the call of duty.
I had been watching MSNBC last evening, and I caught part of a discussion of this case. The consensus was that the boys took advantage of her condition more than she did with them.
Whilst I am all in favour of sexual equality, I feel this may be one place where it may be rational to make exceptions because the sexes are not naturally equal. (Although I think you're saying that while the law treats both equally, the interpreters of the law should but don't, which is a fair point....)
However, in the case of underage sex, am I right in thinking it is treated as if the offender rape the victim? That given, how often are women accused and found guilty of rape? It's not easy for a woman to rape a man -regardless of his age. There has to be "an element of willingness" there. not so for a man to rape a woman.
All that said, I think the whole law sucks. Whilst we need to protect our children, they are not as naive as the law allows for, and sometimess the adults who are prosecuted are.
One of those cases with the law where your dammed if you do and dammed if you dont . I see your rationale about the sexes not being naturally equal but what sort of message does this sent to others who would be the same? if your female you can get away almost scott free ?? the idea of punishment *in my mind anyway * is to deter others as much as punishing the prepetrator .
Rape is always been hard to prove even in the case of a male on female look at the basket ball player case*kobe bryant * quite resently even with dna and the presence of semen inside the women doesnt prove rape just intercourse,in that case we will never know the complete truth .
I do believe there are a lot of rape that NEVER get reported because of the unwarranted embarrassment and shame attachedto it ... I do also feel that there are cases where the women cried RAPE when one infact did not accur,
The mother refused to let the trial go on. She wouldn't let the boy testify. I can't see how he was unwilling to go thru with the act. I also don't think she deserved jail time. I guess if he hadn't bragged no one would ever have known.
I had been watching MSNBC last evening, and I caught part of a discussion of this case. The consensus was that the boys took advantage of her condition more than she did with them.
That dont wash with me so she was on drugs and going though a bad time once again turn the table around and have a man who is going though some marital problems and is on medication and the girls behave in such a manner as to intice him .
Would the law look apon the male the same way as they looked at her ????
Adults should be able to control themselves and be responsible for there actions .
if she had some sort of problem that resulted in her being vulnerable she should have taken steps to remove herself from that environment .
Im tired of hearing its was somebody elses fault.
I had been watching MSNBC last evening, and I caught part of a discussion of this case. The consensus was that the boys took advantage of her condition more than she did with them.
That dont wash with me so she was on drugs and going though a bad time once again turn the table around and have a man who is going though some marital problems and is on medication and the girls behave in such a manner as to intice him .
Would the law look apon the male the same way as they looked at her ????
Adults should be able to control themselves and be responsible for there actions .
if she had some sort of problem that resulted in her being vulnerable she should have taken steps to remove herself from that environment .
Im tired of hearing its was somebody elses fault.
I understand what you're saying JOhnA but if the adult in charge of the boy won't press charges there's little anyone can do.
The mother refused to let the trial go on. She wouldn't let the boy testify. I can't see how he was unwilling to go thru with the act. I also don't think she deserved jail time. I guess if he hadn't bragged no one would ever have known.
So same thing ANNE if we turn it around* man has sex with underage girl* and the girls mother refiused to let her testify and she was a willing perticipant and infact told her friends no time should be served by the male perpetrator then ?????
John you are comparing apples with oranges. The boy is probably traumatised by the fuss, whereas the intercourse was just doing what comes naturally.
The mother refused to let the trial go on. She wouldn't let the boy testify. I can't see how he was unwilling to go thru with the act. I also don't think she deserved jail time. I guess if he hadn't bragged no one would ever have known.
So same thing ANNE if we turn it around* man has sex with underage girl* and the girls mother refiused to let her testify and she was a willing perticipant and infact told her friends no time should be served by the male perpetrator then ?????
Not the same thing at all JohnA. Biological differences and also social differences. A girl once used is ruined, a boy becomes experienced. You explain that difference to me. :grin:
The mother refused to let the trial go on. She wouldn't let the boy testify. I can't see how he was unwilling to go thru with the act. I also don't think she deserved jail time. I guess if he hadn't bragged no one would ever have known.
So same thing ANNE if we turn it around* man has sex with underage girl* and the girls mother refiused to let her testify and she was a willing perticipant and infact told her friends no time should be served by the male perpetrator then ?????
Not the same thing at all JohnA. Biological differences and also social differences. A girl once used is ruined, a boy becomes experienced. You explain that difference to me. :grin:
Ill give you that ANNE to the boy its a feather in his cap * I know ive been there *
:lol:
Wish I had a teacher like that when I was 14 :sad:
Amen brother :grin:
"A girl once used is ruined" Not if she films it and puts it on the internet. She becomes rich and famous.
JohnA, I agree that the punishment should be the same for both men and women but why not turn the table around. Why send anyone go to jail for double digit years just for non violent sex?
These parents did the right thing IMO. To drag this through the courts with all the attention would only add to any harm already caused.
"An element of willingness" grin Would that stand up in court?
A girl once used is ruined
Or just getting started... this is why I waited so long to get married, I don't want a virgin.
To quote the Goddess that is Dusty Springfield "Learnin' from eath other's knowing"