Teacher accused of having sex with a teenager

TAMPA -- A 28-year-old middle school math teacher was arrested this evening, accused of having sex with a Davidsen Middle student.

Stephanie Marie Ragusa, left, of 15324 Lake Bella Vista Dr. in Tampa, had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy between Oct. 1, 2006 through May 4, 2007, after he turned 15, according to a Hillsborough Sheriff's spokeswoman.

The boy was never in Ragusa's class, but met him on campus, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Ragusa has worked for Hillsborough County schools from July 2006 until going on paid leave in February for reasons unrelated to this case, according to Hillsborough County school spokesman Stephen Hegarty. She is currently a seventh-grade teacher at Martinez Middle in Lutz.

Ragusa and the boy had sex once in Ragusa's apartment and twice in her vehicle, Carter said. One of the sexual encounters occurred while the teenager should have been in an after-school class and the other two happened at night, she said.

Someone informed a school resource deputy about the affair on March 12. The deputy then questioned the boy, who confirmed the relationship, Carter said.

Ragusa was arrested at her home at 4:55 p.m. She is expected to be booked into Hillsborough County Jail this evening. She faces five counts of lewd and lascivious battery.

Hegarty, of the school system, said she has been suspended with pay, pending review of her case.

Ragusa worked at Madison Middle in Tampa before transferring to Davidsen to teach special education at some point during the 2006-07 school year. She was previously arrested in 2005 on a DUI charge.

- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer