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Contact with kids OK for LaFave, judge says

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By TOM BRENNAN

tbrennan@tampatrib.com

Published: October 30, 2009

TAMPA - Former middle school teacher and convicted sex offender Debra LaFave can again have unsupervised contact with children, a judge ruled Thursday.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Wayne S. Timmerman cited the fact that LaFave completed court-ordered sex offender therapy this month.

Prosecutors did not object, saying there was no legal reason to prohibit LaFave from appropriate contact with children.

Under the terms of her sentence for having sex with a student, LaFave is still not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of where children congregate or work or volunteer with children.

"This is another step along the way for Debbie," said her attorney, John Fitzgibbons. "She continues to do well."

He said his client is still receiving therapy.

"Today was a good step forward," Fitzgibbons said.

LaFave had no comment.

The former English teacher at Greco Middle School had asked to be allowed to have contact with a limited number of children of her family and friends as long as she was supervised and the parents agreed.

But Fitzgibbons and Assistant State Attorney Mike Sinacore said a review of the law showed LaFave could have unsupervised appropriate contact with children once she had completed her court-ordered therapy.

LaFave was placed on three years of house arrest followed by seven years of probation after pleading guilty in November 2005 to having sex with a 14-year-old male student.

In January 2008, a judge determined LaFave had violated the terms of her house arrest by having private conversations with a 17-year-old female co-worker. The judge chose not to impose punishment because he didn't find the violation was willful.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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