Teacher posts bail, placed on unpaid leave following sex charge

TAMPA -- The female teacher accused of having sex with a middle school student has been released from jail and placed on unpaid leave from Hillsborough County schools.

Stephanie Ragusa, 28, posted $12,500 bond and was released from Orient Road Jail Tuesday around 5:20 p.m.

Ragusa, a Martinez Middle School science teacher, is accused of having three sexual encounters with a 14-year-old boy she met while teaching special education at Davidsen Middle School between October 2006 and May 2007.

She faces five felony charges of lewd and lascivious battery, one for each sexual act involving the 14-year-old, who deputies say turned 15 over the course of their relationship. Jail records indicate she has hired Tampa attorney Robert Herce to represent her; he could not be immediately reached this evening for comment.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer