Former teacher Debra Lafave arrested

TAMPA - Former Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave was arrested today, accused of violating probation, Hillsborough County jail records show.

Lafave (left), who has been on house arrest for a 2003 case involving sex with a male student, was having "intimate discussions" with a 17-year-old female coworker while employed at Danny Boy's Restaurant in Sun City Center, Department of Corrections spokeswoman JoEllyn Rackleff said.

Lafave talked with the coworker about their boyfriends, Rackleff said, violating terms of her probation that prohibit her from having unsupervised contact with minors.

According to the violation of probation form, on several occasions, Lafave discussed with the girl "non-work related issues such as family problems, friends, high school, personal life, boyfriend issues and sexual issues in both private one-on-one conversations."

The 17-year-old's mother declined to comment.

The manager of the restaurant said everyone there was "shocked'' by the arrest. His first inkling of a problem came three weeks ago when Lafave's probation officer called to say she could no longer work there, said manager Scott Griffin, 28. He had no idea what the problem was until reporters started calling today, Griffin said. The 17-year-old girl and Lafave have worked together for two years, according to Lafave's attorney.

Griffin said he grew up with Lafave in Ruskin and hired her as a waitress in Jaunary 2006. He said she never waited on minors and he never saw her talk or act inappropriately with a minor or anyone else. Hostesses knew not to give her a table with minors, he said.

"We don't understand this at all,'' Griffin said. "We are completely blown away.'' Her last check is still at the restaurant waiting for Lafave to pick it up, he said.

Cloud Miller, a Kaplan University Criminology professor and former Florida Probation and Parole Commission hearing officer and St. Petersburg probation officer, said probation officers have no leeway in reporting suspected probation violations. If they hear about something, they are mandated to report it to the courts. It's up to a judge to decide whether the violation occurred, he said.

The incident shouldn't be perceived as minor, he said. The courts gave Lafave a chance to stay out of prison and expected her not to contact juveniles, he said. As a former teacher, teenage girls could look up to her and respect her views, advice or counsel on sexual matters or relationships, he said.

"Somewhere along the line," Miller said, "the message has to be sent that this type of behavior won't be tolerated."

Miller speculated the violation could lead to prison time.

Lafave resigned from Danny Boy's restaurant in November, following a directive of her probation officer, Michael Cotignola, her violation report states. She now works as a receptionist at her mom's business, Joyce Beasley's Plaza Barber Shop in Ruskin.

She has been attending a sex offender treatment program since December 2005 and was last said to be making "steady progress" according to the report authored by Cotignola.

Lafave's 2003 case made national headlines. She was booked Tuesday at 1:48 p.m. and released without bail.

By late afternoon, news media were calling the restaurant. Larry King wanted Griffin on his show and CNN was on hold.  A regular walked in and asked Griffin: "Are they bothering Debra again?''

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, attorney John Fitzgibbons said he saw little common sense in the day's development.

"I can only characterize this as somewhat of a bizarre and unusual violation," Fitzgibbons said.

He called LaFave's actions "girl talk" between two coworkers at a restaurant.

He said he learned of LaFave's arrest this afternoon through a phone call from her mother.
He described the relationship between Lafave and the coworker as a workplace relationship and said the documents in the case speak for themselves.

"This is it," he said. "There's no more. There's no less."

He said the probation officer appeared to be following a strict interpretation of LaFave's probation terms. Under that interpretation, "Her voice can barely meet the ear of anyone under the age of 18," Fitzgibbons said.

Criminal defense attorney George Tragos said there's a zero tolerance climate in Florida when it comes to sex crimes in lieu of recent high-profile cases involving sex offenders such as John Couey.

"Even the slightest offense is going to cause probation officers to ask for a warrant," he said.

But if Lafave shouldn't have held any one-on-one conversations with teens, he wondered why a probation officer may have allowed her to work at Danny Boy's restaurant, where she was bound to come in contact with children and teens who might eat or work there.

Lafave's ex-husband, Owen Lafave, had harsh words of advice for her.

"Try staying out of trouble and away from children," he said. "It's not working out well for her."

Lafave, a 29-year-old Tampa banker, said he learned of Debra Lafave's arrest when he got out of a meeting and found his cell phone filled with messages from reporters. 

"You know, I'm not surprised," he said. "You know, here is someone who threw away her husband, threw away her career to go live with her parents and work at a deli."

Lafave said he hopes his ex-wife will be punished with time behind bars.

"I thought the original sentence was lenient, and I thought she should go to jail," he said. "I think now that she has violated her probation, she should go to jail. I think at least a year in jail. You know, it needs to be a deterrent. Everyone needs to know that if you act as inappropriately as she has, you go to jail."

-- Rebecca Catalanello, Justin George and Saundra Amrhein, Abbie VanSickle, Times staff writers

Comments

[brown]

She's still HOT

[Rob]

Still hot???? Yeah for trailor trash!

[Jim Johnson]

Dear Jesus, please save Debra from jail. Amen

[JA]

She's still SICK

[Juice]

Really petty of the P.O. This wasnt her trying to be a child molester. This was just being friendly. Anyone who works at a restaurant has probably had that type of interaction. I used to work at that restaurant years ago and conversation were pretty open. Just a way to try and lock her up

[Tupac Shakur]

WOW... She is a superfreak. Rick James warned us about girls like her.

[bill]

All ready released ROR. I guess they still consider her too pretty to be in jail..

[politicalspectator]

Too pretty for real prison, but not too pretty for a "Reform School Girls" sequel.

[Jaws]

She's a very kinky girl
The kind you don't take home to mother
She will never let your spirits down
Once you get her off the street

[Jaws]

She's a very kinky girl
The kind you don't take home to mother
She will never let your spirits down
Once you get her off the street

If Lafave was having "intimate discussions" how would the probation officer that violated her know what was being said, unless she was talking with him?

Lafave is in a tough spot with the house arrest thing. The DOC can violate her anytime they feel like it, even from a hiccup from anyone in the background at the courthouse or any two bit politician.

[Rebekah]

if they were at work when the conversations took place how were they unsupervised? This seems pretty petty. Maybe the 17 year old should not have worked there since she was a minor around adults.

[Lu P]

Leave her alone. I'm sure didn't mean any harm. Everyone speaks with co-workers about intimate situations from time-to-time. I think this is entrapment. Leave the poor woman alone! She's paying the price for her crime in lost income for the rest of her life!

[Billy]

This is all nonsense. This is becoming like OJ where they law wants to throw in jail at all cost. What a waste of tax payers money.

[Jonathan Roy]

It does seem a bit overkill to call it a parole violation to chat with a female co-worker at work.

[Susan]

Have tow onder, how anyone who violates probation, gets released ROR...
isn't probation a "second chance"
sounds like she blew it to me, and should go back to jail, starting from the beginning, pretty or NOT!

Send her right over ... I'll spank her!!! Bad girl !!!

[MELISSA]

Petty!! Anything to keep someone in the "system" .If she is not to keep in contact with "minors" then why employ her at a business that has "minors working there? What was the state trying to entrap her! To stick it to her or what? And then why don't you tell everyone where the girl works,name location everything. Is this not against ones Constititional rights?

[Robert]

She's still hot!! Send her over and I'll make sure she doesn't do it again!!

That being said, sounds like whoever told her it was a good idea to work at a restaurant around people who are under 18 should be jailed. Someone should help her find a job were she wouldn't come in contact with underage people. Jobs are out there like that.

Sounds like a witch hunt!!

[Nan]

Sounds like a clause that could be used selectively to me.
All she had to say was, Hi, how are you?" and if the girl said almost anything back except "fine", it could be used against her.

[Don]

This is pure unmitigated BS! A justice system completely out of control. They now think they are the conversation police. Don't forget, OJ is still walking free and these assholes are harassing for a conversation. We are doomed!!!

[Mom]

This is not a petty arrest. I would not want a grown woman talking about her boyfriends and sex with my 17-year-old daughter, would you? This woman obviously is immature, maybe she thinks she is still a teenager. I think she is mentally ill and needs to be institutionalized for a while until she grows up mentally.

[mylafavoriteteacher]

Plaza barber shop in Ruskin, huh? I'm thinkin' I need a hair cut and a blow dry. ;0)

[I get it]

A criminal who gets out of jail and is placed on parole is required to meet certain criteria. If there is a violation of the criteria, the parolee is no longer on parole but is put back in jail to serve the hard time. It should be that straight forward. No judgement needed.

[dvdiva]

I haven't seen one person comment on the fact that she knew the terms of her probation and she violated it. Period. Hot or not, she knew the rules when she was a teacher and she knew the rules of her probation.

[JB]

Give me a break, you bunch of whiners. She broke the law. She was an adult teacher convicted of having sex a minor/student. Are you kidding? She should be in jail in the first place. What happens to male teachers that do the same? Wake up.

[Beth]

She needs to give it up and go work as a stripper...no one under 18 is allowed in those clubs and they could make a fortune with her as a featured dancer...of course she'd have to give up most of her tips to the boss.

[Mark S]

What BS. She talked to a 17yr old about life. OH NOES! Retard state

[Mark Smith]

With a 2x4

[Dallas]

I asked in 2003. I will ask again now. Show me a victim and tell me about the horrible pain and suffering they endured at the hands of such a vicious predator? Lafave talking to a 17 year old girl at work is a violation? How? Give me a break. This is total BS. My theory is that Debra refused sex to her probation officer and he/she got angry. This is just stupid.

[James]

She is good looking but I like my woman bit more intelligent. If you are going to be a criminal, creep around, etc at least have the skill as to not get caught. Forget what her PO or she says. Let's hear what the judge thinks.

[MELISSA]

Well once all the "facts" are gathered then talk to me about this so called "sex talk". Sorry to say ''mom'' but I am sure the 17 yr old had plenty of input in this "sex" talk, teenagers are not innocent!
Now, if she touched the girl that's one thing!But of course this 17 yr old can say or her mother for that matter can say what ever they want and they will beleive them! Let me hear the recordings or a witness that this happened!

[givemeabreak]

you have seriously got to be kidding...talking with a 17yo co-worker about sex is grounds for incarceration...god bless america and its hard working thought police

[Gary]

Debra needs supervised probation........I volunteer to supervise!!!!!

[Mark S]

Melissa me and you can make a video evidence tape. YOUR HOT!

Guarantee this thread will be closed to comments in less than 10 minutes. The SPT's moderators probably can't handle this much longer!

[James]

Hey Melissa, is it hard to walk with that chip on your shoulder?

[MELISSA]

The police?!?! Some of them are the biggest hypercirates around! PLEASE!!

[the kid]

AS if here are not worst people in the world to arrest for for violating their probation. I'm upset that I never had a teacher that looked like her, I might have graduated Kollege in fo years instead Fieve. :)

[Ashley]

I'd still do her:)

[MELISSA]

YEP, IT GETS HEAVY AT TIMES.. THANKS FOR ASKING! :)

[James]

Kid, I had teachers that were nowhere nears as good looking and had fantasies about them!

[MELISSA]

James, now let me ask you. Do you have anything Intelligent to say?

I think this woman has a problem realizing her own age. She had intimate relations with a 14 year old boy when she was 25, and now she's in trouble again for talking to a 16 year old girl about family, boyfriends, and sex. Sounds like the stuff teenage girlfriends talk about. I would not feel comfortable with a 27 year old woman discussing her sexual relations with my 16 year old daughter. Very weird. I think she really needs to get some help to realize that she is an adult now, not a teenager.

[Sharon]

What a waste of time and the taxpayers' money. You didn't think she'd talk to her co-workers, Mr. Probation Officer? And how was she unsupervised in a restaurant setting? I think the courts have worse things to worry about.

[JB]

Melissa, what is a hypercirate? Get the spelling right...

Any geez, people. Is there any respect for the law anymore? Do people go to prison for breaking the law, unless they are young, attractive, "professional", and most importantly female?

Ridiculous.

[Kelldog]

As many of you have stated she knew the rules as a teacher not to have sex with students. SHe put herself in this position no one else did. It was her decision to have sex with a minor and it was her decision to violate her parole agreement. This whole case was BS because she should have been put in prison just like the men that do what she did! This stupid double standard needs to stop. Put her in prison!

[Vinny]

Hey, Rob - your spelling is pretty trashy; you must live in a TRAILER.

[HARASSMENT]

First, you have an entire restaurant staff that knew that she could not be around minors, and worked to prevent that from happening, and it didn't happen. As far as I am concerned you have some hormonal teenager who thinks teachers hot, and wants a piece of the action "attention!" He makes up this story, and everyone believes it! Except for the people who were present and accounted for: adults who have no reason to lie -- unlike this would be hormonal kid - who'd like to follow upon her past. Gawwwddd... I am so sick of everyone acting as if every kid tells the truth! They don't! And I for one don't believe that little creep. After "so many conversations" that no one saw why turn her in now? Oh, I get it, he wasn't going to get any? So he makes up a nasty story to get her into trouble: jerk!

[Dennis]

sounds like she was set up by her PO and the 17 year old other wise how could the PO know what was talked about

[James]

Melissa, sure I do. I just don't take all this too seriously. The conversation and the details of such make a weak case from what I can see. Still, I reserve me "venom" from either side until it goes to court. Call me nuts but I try to not condemn those who have not been convicted just as I do not exonerate those who have yet to go to trial.

Intelligent enough? Or, must I agree with you on anything and everything to be deemed smart in your eyes?

[Jeff Spicoli]

GD!!! That girl is so freaking hot and sooooo incredibly dumb. The kid who she did is one lucky sob! I sure wish I had teachers that looked that fine.

[Kelldog]

Apparently "Harrassment" you did not read the story because the hormonal kid is a female. As for some of the others who say the conversations took place in the restuarant, I believe the story says some of the conversations took place in private. At what point do we as a country just not do anything about people who violate the law. This unfortunately sound like some people are OK with the National Man Boy Love Association that believe it is OK for men to have sexual encountters with boys when they are 3 years old. Hopefully those of you that believe that Lefave is being treated unjustly never have anyopne molest or have inappropriate conduct with your kids or grandkids. Then again maybe you will think that is OK!

[Kracklin]

Oh believe me those 16 and 17 yr old kids do more behind your back then you think.. They do the nasty too just like you did when you were that age..

[Baylink]

Oh... for the love of Christ.

Could we just give her a big Scarlet 'M' to sew on her blouses and sweaters, and get it over with?

And, um, commenters?

Do you *really* want us to know how unlettered y'all are? It's *amazing* what anonymity will give you license to do, isn't it?

[Kelldog]

May be instead of sewing the M on her she could be put in priosn with all men that way she can have all the sex she wants.

[James]

Would that be punishment for her?

[Voice Of Reason]

OK lets be realistic here. Shes a hottie and most us guys would tap that. However, she broke the law so she deserves what she gets. Its for the same reason as to why we cant keep only the hot female illegal aliens. There are laws for a reason. Dont like them, well you use the proper legal channels to change them. Until then abide by them or suffer the consequences.

[Kracklin]

She is way too pretty for prison, it's a toss up between her and Britney.. YUMMY !!!!!!!

[Kracklin]

I would say probably 96% of people have had sex before the age of 18.. Quit beating up Debra...

I agree JB - what does being young and pretty have to do with anything? Even young, pretty people are expected to abide by the law. This person is obviously very mixed up and I wouldn't want her influencing my teenage kids! I can't believe the testosterone-driven comments on here. Very mature...

[Kelldog]

This is not really about sex!! It is about LAW and she broke it.

[Neku]

Once again men get to put very sexual innuendos on this page.

[Kracklin]

They will do notta to her, slap the hand and tell her to watch it....

[Kracklin]

I think she has paid her price for what she did in 2003, geeeez how much should one pay? LIFE?

[Kelldog]

Men pay for life by being labeled a sexual offender. Again she created her reputation now she must live with it. It is obvious that she will never learn how to conduct herself in the real world. Maybe as someone else on her stated she should be institutionalized. She must not be competent to be in the real world.

[Someone with a brain]

Bottom line....she broke the law. Get the hell over it people. If they let her get away with it, then they would have to let someone else get away with something worse. It doesn't matter if she talked or touched, she had contact with a minor. It's plain and simple. Black and white. She did something she wasn't suppose to while on probation..PERIOD!

If this was a nasty looking man I'd like to see what you would all say then. It would be totally different and you know it.

I am a woman saying this by the way, I'm not some pissed off dude asking why women get away with things more than man. I am a woman saying this because it's so true. There are women predators out there too, obviously there are more men, but women do it too and they can't be treated any different!

[Kelldog]

I AGREE. THANK YOU

[Someone with a brain]

You're welcome!! Oh I liked youe NMBLA comment above, nice touch!

[James]

Kelldog, brain, etc are all correct. As much as I'd like to have been molested at 17 by her, my parents wouldn't have liked it. We expect more from our teachers. She may be pretty but she is truly bottom of the bucket.

Restaurants are notorious in Florida for hiring probationers and supervised of the DOC. The restaurants hire tons of probationers like LaFave for kitchen work or waitress because if they "show up late" or don't show up for work the employer simply picks up the phone, calls the PO, and the probationer is violated. Nice way of being sure your employees perform well on the job. I'd bet this restaurant operator has had lots of probationers working for him.

Too, the restaurant manager must be a kook or have a kook for a wife. What wife would let her husband hire Debra LaFave? I don't believe any of this story. And if it is such a serious violation why didn't she have to post like $10,000 bond? The whole thing doesn't add up.

[newsflasher]

Newsflash, men and women ARE different. I love how Kelldog equates Lafave talking with a 17yo girl about sexual issues with a man raping a 3yo boy- that's logic right there. I'm looking forward to the lawsuit where the girl's parents sue Lafave for all the horrible mental trauma and anguish that their poor, poor daughter endured at the hands of this jezebel.

[Kracklin]

The girl probably started the conversation, i mean come on, she IS 17. They are no angels at this age, just hope she dont turn out that way..

[dave]

Rob.........spell "trailor".......before YOU trash talk

[Someone with a brain]

Hey "newsflasher".......you're clearly not getting it. Newsflash: It's not about whether or not she caused emotional distress. SHE BROKE THE LAW!! That's the point. She's a convicted felon on probation and there are rules she has to abide by. Felons violating probation happens everyday, but because she was another female teacher who couldn't keep her hormones in check and got it on with a 14 year old child, it made headlines. When other felons violate probation they are punished for it, but it just doesn't make headlines. Look into dude!

[Dr_Dug]

Ridiculous

[Lullaby]

It's very simple. The terms of her probation were spelled out, and she violated them. She's lucky she didnt have to serve time for sexually abusing a child already-if she was a man she would have. She totally deserves prison now, ignorant hick.

[Bob]

God, what do you guys expect - she is a BLONDE!!!! (And hot!!!) Like some other poster, I would most certainly volunteer to spank the h--- out of her!!!)

[Doctor Raj]

I could understand a requirement that she not engage a minor boy in conversation, but what is wrong with talking with a female coworker? Is there some doubt about her sexual life style other than her previous outrage regarding a young male and her status as his teacher? While she is not a winner, her former husband sounds like a real jerk.

[gogeeks]

I feel that this girl has been given no chanse of satisfying her probation. Why don't you just tie a sign around her neck that says you must be 18 years old to talk to me or is it 21 in floride. I can't wait for the day when someone gives her a chance of making it BIG! Like me!
Give the girl a break.

[Jonathan]

This is ridiculous. I agree with the statement that this is entrapment, and to those who are making lewd comments promoting their form of "discipline" to Debra, you are no better than she for posting such smut. Go find a porn site and leave this poor girl alone. She's been through enough.

[Someone with a brain]

Give the girl a break? Wow, that was as intelligent as your spelling errors. Maybe she should where a sign!Why not, it would solve the problem, now wouldn't it? I can't believe how shallow you're being. Like I said before, I'd like to see what you'd have to say if it was an ugly MAN that commited the crime. Hell I'd like to say what people would say if she was ugly! You guys are looking at the surface here. Hey some pretty people commit crimes too....check it out SHE DID!

they should send her to juvenile detention center instead she could have herself a real good time there!

[Mike]

I doubt that this was the intent of the court order that enjoined her from any contact with minors. We could all stipulate that a crime was committed in 2003 and due process was in order, but who would question whether the perpetrator was "healthy" at the time? Again, I would not suggest that she not be punished, but this is a troubled individual with a long journey ahead, and judgemental cheap shots are not helping her or the young victim. I would wish her recovery and insight.

[Kellilynn]

It was a terrible thing that Debra had a relationship with a minor. But getting arrested for having "girl talk" with a 17 year old hardly qualifies as illegal. My gosh I worked at the cosmetics counter for years at a department store with women ages 18 to 60, our conversations were sometimes so intimate they could be considered x-rated by some.

[Truthcourtnek56@yahoo.com]

Well, it's easy to tell the liberals in this discussion, they have absolutely no standards outside sexual gratification. No society run by the left can survive long. If this is evolution, it's running in reverse real fast. Maybe now that Debra is working in a beauty shop, she can learn to comb John Edwards hair and get a White House job one day.

[Truth]

Well, it's easy to tell the liberals in this discussion, they have absolutely no standards outside sexual gratification. No society run by the left can survive long. If this is evolution, it's running in reverse real fast. Maybe now that Debra is working in a beauty shop, she can learn to comb John Edwards hair and get a White House job one day.

[mikie]

Ok, just because she had sex with a 14 year old BOY, does not necessarily mean she is on the prowl for young women too. And how is it the authorities can actually beleive its even possible to not be around people under 18? This is a total setup...PERIOD.

[susan]

Lock her up and let the "women" see how pretty she is...

[Deb]

She aleady paid the price, runined career, and probably student loans up to her ears. Most boys and girls have sex long before 18...society is ridiculus. The boy that she did is probably bragging about it, and his father patting him on the back for getting laid.

[D]

Someone with a brain--you're either a nazi or a robot.

[Reenie]

I think the arrest is ridiculous. Most girls start talking about sex at the age of 14. Does her probabtion also include no right to freedom of speech or the ability to talk to a co worker about everyday topics that girls talk about? I do not aprove of her first act but this just seems so out of left field to me. It seems to e that front page news should be more focused on the real things that matter to our country like losing men to war everyday.

[jim]

Debra Lafave voted for Mitt Romney over and over and over again in the local Republican straw poll.

Ron Paul for President.

[D]

And "truth" what are your standards, besides being a nazi?

[Jocelyn]

Remember that when Backstreet Boy Nick Carter claimed he had dated her and lost his virginity to her in HS, he also said they boke up after she cheated on him with a girl.

[Jeff Carn]

Had she been a HE and the Student a HER, HE would be sitting in jail for 10 years.

SCREW her, lock the ho-bag up..

That said, she still is hot!! Someone go smack the student she was with

This is cruel punishment.
This lady's violation is no way comparable to hard liner sexual offenders.

Girl talk does not warrant overblown consequence such as this.

Life is sometimes ironic and filled with Western hypocrisy.

[Bunker]

I agree Debbie is hot. I want her bad. Any Lowe's employees on here? If so, check ou my website:
http://groups.msn.com/LowesRedApron

[Pete]

A complete lack of common senses on the part of the police. What a BS charge. She had been quietly working, not bothering anyone just wanting to get through this ordeal. Jaywalkers and those spitting on the street are bigger felons. A waste of time.

[Brandi]

Did this article need to be this long? What a waste of space.