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Ragusa Photos Reveal Identifiable Tattoos

Photo from Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office

Photos reveal Stephanie Ragusa has a lizard tattoo on the small of her back.

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

Updated: 07/08/2008 03:35 pm

TAMPA — A lizard tattoo on the small of a teacher's back; a ladybug on the lower left side of her belly; a flower on her right.

Several photographs of Stephanie Ragusa were released today by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office. Prosecutors are not commenting on the pictures but sheriff's office reports have said the photographs were used to corroborate statements given by a teenager who claimed to have had sex repeatedly with Ragusa. She was his teacher at Davidsen Middle School.

Tampa defense lawyer Dee Ann Athan, who is not affiliated with the case, said the pictures are not a good sign for Ragusa's defense.

"It appears from the photo that she'd have to be undressed at least down to her thong for anyone to see that, and maybe even naked," Athan said. "The more detail that an alleged victim can give the better the evidence for the state against the defendant."

Ragusa, 29, was arrested March 13 after investigators accused her of having sex at least three times from January to May 2007 with a then 14-year-old student. She was released on bail.

As the investigation continued, she was arrested again April 15, accused of having a sexual relationship with another student starting when the boy was 15 and continuing after he turned 16.

Investigators say that two weeks after the second arrest, Ragusa drove her boyfriend's truck to the 16-year-old's house and had sex with him. Her bail was revoked. Ragusa remains jailed.

Ragusa is charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery, four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In all, eight photographs were released. A judge has ruled that three more photographs are too graphic and will not be released publicly.

News Channel 8 reporter Krista Klaus contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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