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Lafave Hearing Postponed

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Debra Lafave attends a hearing this morning with her attorney, John Fitzgibbons.

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

TAMPA - TAMPA - Reporters and television cameras packed the courthouse this morning as Debra Lafave walked through the building, her attorney and parents at her side.

Minutes later, the show was over – her hearing postponed until Jan. 10.

Lafave

Lafave's attorney, John Fitzgibbons, told the judge this morning he was prepared to fight allegations that his client violated house arrest by speaking privately with a 17-year-old girl. The two work together at a Sun City Center restaurant.

Lafave, who pleaded guilty in 2005 to charges that she had sex with a 14-year-old boy, is not allowed to be alone with anyone younger than 18.

Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters told Circuit Judge J. Rogers Padgett that the 17-year-old was not in court today. The new hearing date was set so she could be present and could testify.

After the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said prosecutors expected Fitzgibbons to ask the judge to dismiss the charges. Two probation officers were present to argue that the charges should not be dropped. When Fitzgibbons instead asked for a hearing, they realized they needed the 17-year-old.

Outside the courtroom, Fitzgibbons said he looks forward to the day he can present his case.

"We are going to vigorously, and I mean vigorously, contest these unfounded allegations against Debbie," he said.

Lafave, a former English teacher at Greco Middle School, was arrested June 21, 2004, after a 14-year-old student's mother called police to report that Lafave was having sex with her son.

By November 2005, the mother said she did not want her son to testify in court. She agreed to a plea deal where Lafave would be sentenced to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation.

A provision of the deal allowed Lafave to commute the third year of house arrest to probation if she completed the first year with no violations. Her attorney was about to file papers asking for Lafave's release from house arrest when she was jailed on Dec. 4.

A probation officer says Lafave had private, non-work-related conversations with the 17-year-old girl at Danny Boy's restaurant. Court records show that Lafave and the teen discussed "family problems, friends, high school, personal life, boyfriend issues and sexual issues."

On Saturday, the teenage girl released a statement through her attorneys that criticizes the Florida Department of Corrections.

The attorneys describe the conversations between the 17-year-old and Lafave as "customary, age appropriate in nature, non-offensive and typical" of work-related and personal talk between co-workers.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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