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Student-Proposed Bill On Teacher Sex Passes 1st Hurdle

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By JOSH POLTILOVE and VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

TAMPA - A bill proposed by Armwood High students passed 7-0 today through its first state House committee stop.

The proposal would give mandatory jail time to teachers who have sex with students. It surfaced as part of this year's "Ought to Be a Law" competition, sponsored annually by Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, and Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa.

If enacted, it would take effect Oct. 1.

Four Armwood students spoke to the committee today.

"Right now it looks very favorable," Armwood teacher Tony Pirotta said of the bill's chances to become a law. "We really didn't meet much resistance once the representatives found out what the bill was about."

The teacher-sex bill would make any sexual conduct between students and teachers a first-degree felony, requiring jail time. In an earlier presentation, Armwood student Kelly Drapeza noted that state statutes consider sexual activity with a specified minor a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

However, only one of the 10 Bay area teachers accused in a sex scandal since 2005 "has served even a day of jail time," Drapeza said in the presentation.

"The court system has not done an adequate job of prosecuting the sexual offenders that we once called educators," the presentation states. "House arrest and probation are obviously not effective enough deterrents."

Former Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave received house arrest and probation after her 2004 arrest for having sex with a then-14-year-old boy.

Former Davidsen Middle School teacher Stephanie Ragusa, arrested in 2008 and accused of having sex with two underage students, is scheduled for trial in August.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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