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Judge declares Ragusa indigent at hearing

Staff file photo by KATE CALDWELL

Circuit Judge Wayne S. Timmerman scheduled an Oct. 28 hearing on her attorney's attempt to keep from Stephanie Ragusa's trial text messages she allegedly made to one of the boys.

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2009

The public will begin picking up the defense tab for Stephanie Ragusa, a former Hillsborough County middle school teacher accused of having sex with two students.

Circuit Judge Wayne S. Timmerman granted a request today by Ragusa's attorney, Robert Herce, to have his client declared indigent. Prosecutors did not object.

"She is in no way able to pay any legal costs," Herce said. "Up to now I've basically paid out of my pocket."

Timmerman also scheduled an Oct. 28 hearing on Herce's attempt to keep from Ragusa's trial text messages she allegedly made to one of the boys.

Ragusa, 29, a former Davidsen Middle School math teacher, was arrested in March 2008, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old. She was arrested the next month and charged with having sex with a 16-year-old. She has been held without bail since her second arrest.

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

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