Authorities: Accused teacher was looking for suitors for her daughter

NEW PORT RICHEY - The high school substitute teacher was compiling a list of potential suitors for her teenage daughter, authorities say, when she first started talking to a 16-year-old boy.

She told him he was "on the list."

But the Pasco Sheriff's Office says Lisa R. Marinelli, a Mitchell High School substitute teacher, took the boy's inclusion on this suitor list one step too far: She had sex with him on multiple occasions.

Marinelli, 40, was arrested Monday and charged with unlawful sex with a minor, a felony. Married with two children, Marinelli does not have a prior criminal record.

Investigators declined to say today whether Marinelli taught the student, who is now 17.

Additional details of her arrest emerged today.

An arrest affidavit says the boy's father contacted the sheriff's office on Feb. 28. He told authorities that he had gone to his son's workplace the day before when he saw Marinelli and his son getting out of the backseat of her vehicle. He was pulling his pants into place. "He had previously been wearing a belt," Detective Michelle March said today.

The boy told detectives that he and Marinelli had been seeing each other two to three months. After she told him he was "on the list" of potential suitors for her 15-year-old daughter, Marinelli and the boy began spending time with each other. "Mutual flirting occurred," the affidavit says.

He was invited to her home on multiple occasions. At the end of one visit, the affidavit says, Marinelli told him to meet her several houses away. They met there and drove off in his car to the nearby Longleaf subdivision and found a location where the two proceeded to "make out." During this encounter, which lasted less than 30 minutes, Marinelli said several times, "This is bad" and that she should not be doing it.

After that, the pair saw each other regularly. Sometime in early January 2008, authorities say, Marinelli and the student had sex at her home. They had sex about 10 more times after that.

Investigators say the relationship is documented in suggestive text messages. On Feb. 27, they say, Marinelli sent the teen a message that says, "U can meet me at home at 3. Real men only need 20 min!"

No one was home at Marinelli's residence on Nicklaus Drive Tuesday. Neighbors said she and her husband seem like nice people.

"They've been good neighbors," said George Anderson. "They appear to be good parents."

Peggy McClure, another neighbor, said Marinelli was quiet and pleasant, and they would wave when Marinelli was out walking the dog or driving her children somewhere. "I feel bad," she said. "It makes you feel bad for the kids."

But McClure said she had wondered why she had recently seen a young man at Marinelli's home while Marinelli's husband was at work. She said she wondered if Marinelli was having an affair with a younger man - but not that young. She said she figured he was in his early 20s.

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247.

Comments

[J-Stew]

Pics of this cougar look pretty enticing. I know, all you naysayers think this is wrong, but what red-blooded 17 year boy wouldn't love for a lesson with a hot older woman? Where was she when I was 17..

[Uma Gumma]

Well at least, no where in this article did the reporter refer to the teen stud muffin as a "victim". Apparently mom thought he was too hot for her daughter and stud boy agreed. This woman is an idiot to throw away her marriage and kids for a 20 mim "short time" orgasim. Stud boy was a willing participant in the ruin of this marriage and family and should also have to pay consequences for his part. hes lucky if he did this in Texas and the husband caught him in the act, the husband could legally have shot them both.
The only victims here are the husband and kids.

[Pete]

J-Stew....you must be kidding. I looked at the pic and she looks like Paula Abdul on a cocktail of heroin and testosterone. Whatever floats your boat. 17-year old boys can't be choosy.

Uma is a sexist pig.

Child molestation is molestation - no matter what the gender of the victim. By Uma's logic the 12 year old girl molested by her Uncle should be happy her Aunt didn't come home to catch them - as the Aunt could have shot them both for wrecking her marriage right?

Moron.

This "cougar" should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Dave]

All Americans care about are orgasms and cell phones!

[Ted]

I guess you have to become a teacher in this town to get a date.

[Reality Check]

The teacher is a complete idiot. And I am so tired of hearing the word victim! The kid is 17, one more year and legally nothing could be done. He is considered an adult. He knew what he was doing, He's young and @ that age if a young boy (Hell even a grown man) has a piece of A@@ thrown in front of him to do with what he pleases he's gonna jump on it. And the father, the only reason he's making a big deal out of this is because of the mother. If the mother didn't make a big deal out of it the father would probably be high fiving his son. Fire the teacher because she's a complete idiot, but come on the kid should receive some kind of punishment too. Hell he is also part of ruining the lives of the husband and 2 children. All of the blame should not go on the teacher, he's old enough to know right from wrong! Reality Check

[Jillian]

Her husband and daughter must be proud of her now. If mom thinks real men only need 20 minutes, she hasn't had a real man yet!

[Jillian]

The teacher is the one who is wrong thus she has been charged. If she can't control herself around minors why was she working with them? Reality Check, check your facts. This teacher was fired a month ago. The boy is still a minor and this teacher as the other dumb ones is at fault. She's a married woman who has taken advantage of this young man. Legally, he is a minor and his dad did the right thing.

[Wayne]

People need to give this crap a rest already. This whole nonsense shouldn't even BE a law, and wastes taxpayers money to arrest and prosecute when no *real* crime is committed. Instead, this worthless state government continues to run these witch hunts instead of putting our money to good use.

"Uma is a sexist pig."

HELLO!!!!!!! there is a HUGE difference between a 17 year old young man and a 12 year old girl. How on gods green earth can u even try to compare the 2 you idiot. Uma wasnt being sexist he was being honest. Any 17 year old male would want to get some. U are OBVIOUSLY NOT male or you would agree. Trust me, I am a male and @ 17 u only have one thing on ur mind.

[butch]

"Investigators declined to say today whether Marinelli taught the student, who is now 17."

I would be willing to bet she taught him something alright.

[J-Stew]

Kid should be punished? Get real... Yes, he involved himself with a married woman, which is a bad ethical decision, but not an illegal one. She is the married person, and older, so she knew the consequences going into it. Get real the kid should be punished.. What, community service? jail? If single people were punished for messing with married people, there would be a massive shortage on jails in today's day-and-age..

[lk]

You'd think teachers are taking their queue from the Catholic church.

[J-Stew]

Anyone care to guess as to why this type of thing is so prevalent in this geo area? Maybe its me not seeing news like this from other areas, but we have had so many in the TB area. What gives? Something in the water? Shortage on single men? Doest make any sense. Some of these women are good looking (alas, some are not) and would have no problem landing a date. I don't get it, both the act and why its so common here.

[Adam West]

Terrific! The lad is lucky since he probably didn't have to pay! I remember as a 16 YO living in PA a couple of us guys at that time went to Stubenville, OH to get some goodies and we had to pay $5.00! I think a lad of 16 or older, shouldn't be chastised and I'm certain he'll only be looking for more opportunities. If this were a young girl, my opinion would be completely opposite as this could traumatize her for a life time. As anyone noticed the increase in STD of our teenage girls?

[jjjhein]

I recall reading someplace that the TPA is ground zero for divorcees...many women whose marriages have failed move down here, are perhaps feeling a bit disoriented, sad, angry, horny...no family or friends around...maybe have a little too much wine or too many martinis...decide they want to recover their "youthful" days, perhaps prove to themselves that they are still "desirable", yet lack the self-esteem to risk being rejected by a mature man...so...go for the easy pickings: a confused, horny teen boy who can be easily seduced and who is likely to stay quiet so the free fun won't end...I suspect this happens more often than is realized....

[fedupw/moralcompasses]

STUPID beyond words?YES! Should it be illegal to sleep w/a 17 yr. old teen?NO.

[melissa]

I don't get it... what does a 17 yr old have to offer. Nothing ... at that age they are far from being a man,prob dosen't have a decent job, prob acts like an immature idiot... What is wrong with these woman can't they find a piece of a-- they have to resort to teenager. YUCK! Get a life and a real man...that's closer to your age. Better yet get your head's checked.

[Voice of Reason]

uma et al

The child is 16 and the teacher is 40. She is a pedophile and knows the law. she should go straight to jail for a very long time. what a stupid, stupid teacher - yet so typical of Florida teachers.

[Barbara]

How complacent we are about our "children" having sex....and they are "children". Good morals start at home and the boy could have said "no". At what age do boys and/or men start thinking with any part of the anatomy that is above the waist? AND what kind of school teacher goes after her students??? A sick one! Our babies are growing up too fast as it is and they sure don't need this kind of influence in their lives. What kind of lesson do you think this boy just learned?

[Catherine]

The reason it is considered being "victimized" isn't only because of the age (being so close to legal age), but because of it being an authority figure. They're the last person who should look at you that way.

[Gimme a break u whining women]

Ok, stop with the crying and complaining about "our children" "molested" thats all so insane... the kid was 16.. he knew what was going on.. and for personal gain of reputation among other boys at school.. thats why he did it.. I was that age once and doing "non parental appoved" things.. it starts at home.. teach ur kids right from wrong.. stop waiting for the school, or the cops, or the goverment to do it for you..

[Ron]

What kind of teacher checks out boys for her daughter to date anyway....just the fact she made a list should be reason for supspension. As for the kid....he needs to look up Debra Lafave, now that's a one good looking TILF

[Tyler]

How come no one has asked Jillian how long a "real man" should last?

[Confused]

I understand what she did was wrong because she was a teacher, BUT he is of legal age to consent. What I am confused about is if she wasn't happy in her marriage she should have left and then got a different job. She was only a substitute! Not like you would loose your seniority...then this would never have made it to the news.
Molesting, I think not, mutual sex is more like it. This kid was not raped. I feel sorry for him though, what girl would want to be with him now, yuk!

[POC]

If the substitute teacher had been a male and the 16 year-old a female, then there wouldn't be any controversy about what to do.

[Gilbert R. Ford]

First, what kind of mother would be out "sizing up" young men for her 15y/o daughter? Second, this sounds like a front that she (Marinelli) has used BEFORE and had success with. IF she is found to be NOT GUILTY then I owe her an apology. Third, I do not feel the young man is all that innocent, by Law he cannot be charged. Yet, he must share some culpability in this, I really wonder if his self righteous dad taught him that fooling around with KNOWN married women in thier HUSBAND'S home is okay? Last I check, most men would beat the crap out of a guy if they knew they were in thier homes, let alone for the other activity, in rare cases, she got a little of the action TOO! None-the- less, to see a Probation, House Arrest or a Short Jail Sentence handed out would be a slap in the face to us taxpayers IF she is found to be GUILTY who are tired of these obvious nonprofessionals!

[russell]

the real victim is the husband..the teacher and the kid are both just losers! 17 or 70 cheating is cheating

[Dawn]

Instead of worrying about getting a trailor park full of sex offenders who are being montiored evicted. Perhaps parents should be more aware of the uncontrolled situation in our schools. You send you child to school and expect them to be safe from these types of people there. Instead of just a backgroud check, I purpose a mental evaluation too. Obviously we need to address this issue. Teachers are starting to treat our children like they are part of their damn benefit packages.

[carla]

j-stew , did I read you right the child should be punished! what planet are you from anywase? how do you look in the mirror. she was a teacher, parents trust the teachers for god sakes. children are unpreditcable. and to you who think 17 is alright well im just glad my 17yr old wasnt at that school! she was dead wrong!

[Damien]

Debra LaFave, where ARE you? I'm of LEGAL AGE!!

[carla]

and one more thing what daughter wants to sleep with someone their mother has already had! think about it!

[Uma Gumma]

"Uma is a sexist pig" 2:18 ..... haha! you crack me up ! your not even bright enough to understand what "sexist pig" means. my comment had nothing to do with gender bias or prejudice only that both perps, the woman and boy are equally responsible for their actions and should both share in the consequences of their actions. Seeing as how this concept illudes you proves that you are by definition the moron.
hey, 2:40 thanks for the back up, but who said i was a "he" Uma is a girls name (as in Uma Thurman). At least you understood my pont, thanks again its nice to know there are still a few folks out there with some common sense when it comes to sexual gratification and moral ethics.

[alan]

oh well no big loss a sub teacher,,come on now ,id like to see what her husband is going to do about his wife cheating on him and with a boy, what would you do ,,,i think the judge would favor in the divorce but will she have to pay child support or will he ,, i would assume that both should pay for there child.. and not me,,,