Lafave house arrest to end early

Debra Lafave (left) smiles as she tells the media how happy she is that Judge Padgett approved having her house arrest end early in July. She will still have a probation term to serve out. Her father Larry Beasley (center) and her attorney John Fitzgibbons (right) wait to leave the courthouse with her.[Ken Helle, Times]

TAMPA -- Hillsborough Judge J. Rogers Padgett said Debra Lafave can be released from house arrest three months early, on July 11.

Lafave, a former middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old boy, came to court today seeking an immediate change from house arrest to probation. In November 2005 she was sentenced to three years' house arrest and seven years of probation. Her plea agreement allowed her to ask that her last year of house arrest be terminated.

Assistant State Attorney Mike Sinicore strongly objected to Lafave's house arrest being ended early. "This is a very egregious offense," Sinicore said. "There's absolutely no reason for you to mitigate this sentence at all."

John Fitzgibbons, Lafave's attorney, said she has attended 99 weekly sessions at her sex therapy program. Her treating psychiatrist also recommended that she be allowed to serve straight probation.

The victim's family was not in court, but Sinacore said the victim's mother objected to any early termination. Padgett did not give a reason for his ruling or his selection of July as the termination date.

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer