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Math Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Davidsen Middle Student

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 13, 2008

TAMPA - A middle school math teacher was arrested today and accused by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office of having sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Stephanie Ragusa

Stephanie Marie Ragusa, 28, of 15324 Lake Bella Vista Drive, Tampa, was charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery.

According to the sheriff's office, Ragusa had a sexual relationship with the teen when she was a teacher at Davidsen Middle School in Tampa last year. The teen, whose name was withheld by the sheriff's office because he is a juvenile, was not a student of Ragusa's, authorities said.

Ragusa and the 15-year-old had sex five times from Oct. 1, 2006 to May 4, 2007, investigators said.

One of the encounters took place while the teen should have been in an after-school class and others occurred in Ragusa's car and apartment, the sheriff's office said.

Ragusa currently works as a math teacher at Martinez Middle School in Lutz, school officials said.

She will be placed immediately on paid leave then most likely unpaid leave following a review by the school board, Hillsborough County School District spokesman Steve Hegarty said.

Ragusa was arrested today at her home and is expected to be booked into Orient Road Jail tonight, the sheriff's office said.

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