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Teacher In Sex Case Leaves Jail
Stephanie Ragusa leaves Orient Road Jail.
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Published: March 18, 2008
Updated: 03/18/2008 05:47 pm
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TAMPA The 28 year old middle school teacher charged with having sex with a 14-year-old student was released from jail Tuesday after a judge set bail at $12,500.
On Friday, Judge Walter Heinrich held Stephanie Ragusa without bail and set a more formal bail hearing for Wednesday. The hearing was moved to Tuesday after court documents were filed Monday. It is unclear why the hearing was moved.
Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said a prosecutor this morning asked Judge Paul Huey to set the standard bail for a second-degree felony — $7,500 for each of five lewd and lascivious battery charges. Instead, Huey set bail at $2,500 per charge.
Ragusa posted bail at 5:21 p.m. Tuesday, jail records show. She walked out of Orient Road Jail about 10 minutes later. She declined to comment.
Also Tuesday, Heinrich said he wanted to hear a report about ongoing investigation into Ragusa. Hillsborough County sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter confirmed that detectives were investigating the possibility that Ragusa had victimized more underage students.
No information about the ongoing investigation was mentioned at the hearing Tuesday, Bondi said.
Last week, Hillsborough sheriff's investigators monitored a phone call between the Davidsen Middle School student and Ragusa in which she acknowledged having sex with the boy, the sheriff's office said. The victim told investigators about an incident on March 4, 2007, in which he saw two tattoos on Ragusa that usually were covered by her clothing, the sheriff's office said.
The boy, now 15, is not being identified by authorities because he is considered a victim of a sex crime.
Ragusa is accused of having sex at least three times with the teen from January to May 2007, the sheriff's office said. One of the encounters took place while the teen should have been in an after-school class, and others occurred in Ragusa's Lexus and her former apartment in the Hunter's Run complex, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
Ragusa was hired in 2006 to work at South Tampa's Madison Middle School and voluntarily transferred midyear to Davidsen Middle School in Westchase.
She was most recently a math teacher at Lutz's Martinez Middle School.
Tribune reporter Mike Wells and News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( taipan ) on March 18, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Now, who do I make the check out to???
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Posted by ( Zipnby ) on March 18, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Head for the boarder! Taco Bell!
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Posted by ( jbsteel ) on March 18, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Stephanie if you need the cash for bond give me a call.
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Posted by ( jviars ) on March 18, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ill write to you if you have to go to jail. I love you and will stick with you. If you did it I know you learned from it. If you didnt do it I hope this wont ruin your life. I will always be here for you.
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Posted by ( drdneast ) on March 18, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Free Debbie"
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Posted by ( politicalmike ) on March 18, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Anyone got an address where we can write Ragusa and show our support?
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Posted by ( Zipnby ) on March 18, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sounds like we have a save Stephanie Marie Ragusa movement starting up. Next step—raise money!
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Posted by ( hillbillie317 ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
whats with theses women today , going after 14-16 year old boys. Could it be that they cant handle being with a man their own age? Or is it that they are so insecure in themselfs that they figure the younger one's wont notice how little they know about sex and by doing the younger boys it makes them feel better about themselfs.
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Posted by ( MelisT ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Disgusting!!!!! She should remain in jail or a mental care clinic till she goes to court. All other comments here are supporting this, I hope you people do not have children. We can't even trust our teachers.......WAY TO GO H.C.S.D.
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Posted by ( irishpub12 ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Free Ragusa now! I say 10 months house arrest, part time job at Wendy's. Folks she is a catch. Lets all start collecting money for her defense. Please contact letteachergo.com. This foundation helps poor female sexy teachers skip jail and lets forget about the guy teachers caught. Its OK if you are a female (except lesbians)teacher and especially OK if you are pretty. So I way lets git R Dun and let her off now! Her teachers union will help. I bet her male students miss her badly.
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Posted by ( Lakota55 ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Heh I just wonder how much she charges for home tutoring.
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Posted by ( jp328 ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I really do not think this is funny. She is a criminal. She broke the law. Yea she fulfilled every boys dream but she is broke the law.
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Posted by ( cruzinwmb ) on March 18, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
smirk now cry later at trial,lol.
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Posted by ( angryamerican ) on March 18, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It is a shame they have to let someone like this out on bail. If she had a record she should never have been hired as a teacher by the county. Thank God for our Sheriff's officers. Now if the judge will do his duty and put her where she should be, and where the "Pretty" one should have also been sent. There is absolutely no excuse for this behavior.
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Posted by ( jchester56 ) on March 18, 2008 at 7:54 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( sparkle24 ) on March 18, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Pathetic!
It would be fantastic if we could get a positive news story about teachers... instead of these morons giving us all a bad rep. Lock her up!
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Posted by ( Doofy ) on March 18, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ms. Ragusa, please report to the principal's office.
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Posted by ( mprice12 ) on March 18, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It is just as wrong/damaging for a "hot" female teacher to molest a young teen male as it is a male or less pretty female teacher to molest a student. Yet it is totally not treated that way. The only way it will change is when everyone stands together against it and treat these people like the monsters they are. We also need to raise our children to grasp that such behavior is wrong and that if someone in authority approaches them sexually that they should feel free to say no! Until then this type of behavior will continue.
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Posted by ( jeffkaplantampa ) on March 18, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
These female teachers that are having sex with male students where were they when I was in school ? You cant rape the willing. Please any 15 yrs old boy would love to tear that up, hell I am 41 and I would
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Posted by ( non_complainer ) on March 18, 2008 at 11:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where's the beef? I only wish I had been seduced in Jr. High School. I'm sure the boy didn't rat her off on his own initiative nor are there any allegations of coercion being made. This sounds like more hullabaloo form the anti pleasure crowd like Hillary C.
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Posted by ( boilstheclown ) on March 18, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
hello im pretty sure you can write to her if you look on her jail photo. on HCSO it gives her info there also i may add she better get A hold of BARRY COHEN, OR JOHN FITZGIBBONS for this one they are high profile lawyers she will need them, mr Fitzgibbons, is same lawyer that kept, DEBRA LAfave out of jail in her sex case
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on March 19, 2008 at midnight
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( dcarde1 ) on March 19, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I would like to offer full support to Ms. Ragusa not going to jail... as you can see, in the court of public opinion, this is not that bad of a situation if it happens with female adult and minor male. If anything, its not profesional because its workplace and she is teacher. But is it that bad? No way. You have to admit, its just a different standard when it comes to female adults and a male minor. I just put myself in that situation as a male. Would I be scarred at if that happened when I was 4 years away from being legal adult? No way. I hope she fares as well as Debra Lafave
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Posted by ( MrShrek ) on March 19, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
No matter what hand life hands her from here on out , she will never , ever want for a date from now on. She will have 'em lined up down the block! However , there won't be much of a Little League season anymore either.
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Posted by ( marymcq ) on March 19, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's funny how they call this boy a victim, he may be, but, you know he is big man on campus now, I'm sure he loved every minute of it, not like it was an old, fat, disgusting man/woman who forced themselves on him. If it weren't for his big mouth, she never would have been arrested. I guess it is a double standard, but lets face it, men and boys usually think with their other head, I'm sure it didn't take too much begging to get him in the sack, and like I said, he is probably the most popular kid in school now, can't you hear him and buddies talking about it? As for the teacher, I can't understand for the life of me why someone would ruin their career, go to jail, and be branded a sexual preditor for the rest of their life, all for 14 and 15 year old boys. Besides it couldn't have been worth it, a boy that age, it was probably over before she ever got her pants down.
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Posted by ( burrfly_79 ) on March 19, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
hillbillie317 : I am not sure of your age but in my experience with men my age (29) most act like 14/15 years old so she might have gotten confused.
on that note he is a victim, once again old enough to be tried as an adult for murder but not old enough to make a decision that has to do with sex.
she should have known better HELLO all the teachers getting busted (especially in Hillsborough county) she had to have known she was going to get busted. Stupid STUPID STUPID
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Posted by ( westwardho ) on March 19, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
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Posted by ( JDdisgusted ) on March 19, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Uh oh....girls gone wild...lookout;)
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Posted by ( dogworld ) on March 19, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.
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Posted by ( eggo ) on March 19, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She had to go after a younger boy because so many older ones are obese and disgusting
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Posted by ( mgwashburn ) on March 19, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty. And even if she is guilty, it's a victim less crime.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on March 19, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
politicalmike - try this address:
Florida State Prison
7819 N.W. 228th Street
Raiford, Florida 32026-1000
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Posted by ( jp2 ) on March 19, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
jp328, she is NOT a criminal! Yes she has been arrest for breaking the law. But that's all so far. To Dog World, Same comment for you. Plus she can be free because she has NOT had her day in court YET!
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Posted by ( kjkelly618 ) on March 19, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
mgwashburn......
a victimless crime????? I'll bet if it were your son you wouldn't be saying that!
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Posted by ( micojones ) on March 19, 2008 at 5:03 p.m.
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Posted by ( OPTIMUSPRIME ) on March 19, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
**************************************
NOW THATS A TEACHER WHO HAS A DEDICATION TO HER STUDENTS.... I GUESS SHE MISUNDERSTOOD THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT.
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Posted by ( nprvoice ) on March 19, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
its not "just as wrong" for a hot female teacher to sleep with male students as vice versa...
if it was the punishment would be the same
the only real punishment is the ogling she gets while in the news
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Posted by ( westwardho ) on March 19, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess I can't say that I believe what she did was wrong and should be charged with more than the crime she is! Perhaps it was the wording? However, I am disgusted by all the people supporting her actions and stating that it was somehow fun for the young boy!
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Posted by ( nprvoice ) on March 19, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I just thought of something...maybe the student wasn't really 14-15...maybe he was one of these 18 year old 3rd graders I keep hearing about
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Posted by ( flowergirl ) on March 19, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What IS it with teachers going after kids half their age, ESPECIALLY after seeing that others before them didn't get away with it??? Just the potential humiliation alone should be enough to deter women from this. Does she not have family that must be going through this nightmare as well? Good luck finding a place to live, bimbo. Good luck with all those restrictions SEX OFFENDERS have to deal with. Good luck trying to find a job with this hanging over your head for the rest of your life. Her turn to go to "detention".
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Posted by ( dogworld ) on March 19, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( lwolfaje51 ) on March 19, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Geez just doll her up a little and get that slick lawyer so he can get up there and tell the judge that she is to pretty to go to jail.
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Posted by ( GONASA ) on March 19, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
marymcq - I guess that makes her having sex with a minor okay? What if it were a female student and a male teacher? Would she be the "hot-girl" on campus? Would it be "over" before he got his pants down?
Think before you type.
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Posted by ( donttazemebro ) on March 19, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
people, people,people, this teacher is just a fine example of the kind of teachers that are being hired in our schools. she is smiling because she knows Debra Lafava, and we all know what happened to her, just keep your head up and smile and your way way to pretty to go to jail.
Hills cty school board, you better clean up your act NOW, it's really getting out what you all have done and keep doing, LUCY, YOU HAVE SOME SPLANIN TO DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by ( ron ) on March 19, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am just wondering how strong the case is, as the judge set bail at 1/3 what the State asked for. This will be pleaded out and she will be put on probation
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Posted by ( boilstheclown ) on March 20, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
hey her addy is public information on her jail photo. so why dont you write to her at home, and let her know to get rid of that lawyer she has and get a high profile, on like lafave and that lady jen Porter had in there case,
also i just looked same charges as these 2 ladys have now, remember that young lady JAYMEE Wallace, she got 3 years in state prison and still there in quincy florida. you can also look that up on prison web site, she also taught in tampa florida.
stephanie Ragusa,
135324 Lakebella vista dr tampa,33625
thats public info on the jail web site write her and send money to her so she can get a better LAWYER maybe like barry cohen or JOhn H Trevena
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Posted by ( CLD ) on March 20, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
LOL!!!!!
http://www.slapyo.com/wp-content/klingonhitit.jpg
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Posted by ( boilstheclown ) on March 20, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
why all the bad remarks about her im sure she resd the paper in all, im saying this ms ragusa get a better lawyer, ok i saw who you had and you can do a lot better, you dont want to end up in prison like jaymee wallace. did spend the extra few thousand and get a real lawyer oh and John Fitzgibbons also had the jessica seirra. case also. maybe you could hire timinothy Hessinger in st pete he, is also a good high profile lawyer. anywayz you better get one i want replys on this TOPIC no bashers, or trolls
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Posted by ( lauriem ) on March 20, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I really think that all of these women that are getting hot and bothered for a thirteen year old must have an extra chromosome or something. There is just no explanation for this, other that being mentally ill. As most women know, in the course of a regular day, we're hit on any number of times, and sometimes, the guy could actually be cute and capable of shaving every morning. Is that really so hard to find, if all you're looking for is sex? Personally, I enjoy being in a committed relationship, but if all you're looking for is a tumble under the sheets or the backseat, surely you could find someone more qualified than a thirteen year old child?
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Posted by ( boilstheclown ) on March 20, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( wmgerald518 ) on March 20, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
mgwashburn if she is guilty? According to the article :Last week, Hillsborough sheriff's investigators monitored a phone call between the Davidsen Middle School student and Ragusa in which she acknowledged having sex with the boy, the sheriff's office said.
I would think her own statements eliminate any doubt of her guilt.
The question of whether it should be a crime is, in my view, academic. She knew what she was doing was illegal. She chose to take the risk and she lost.
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