Teacher accused of having sex with teenage boy

TAMPA — A 28-year-old math teacher was arrested Thursday, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Stephanie Marie Ragusa didn't have the student in any of her classes, a Hillsborough Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said. But she met the boy on campus while she was working as a special education teacher at Davidsen Middle School last year.

A school resource officer was alerted to the situation after a student came forward, Hillsborough schools spokesman Stephen Hegarty said.

According to the sheriff's investigation, Ragusa had three sexual encounters with the teen between Oct. 1, 2006, and May 4, 2007 — twice in her car and once in her apartment, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

When interviewed by a deputy, the victim confirmed his relationship with the teacher, Carter said.

One of the times they had sex, he told them, was when he should have been in an after-school class. The other two times took place at night, Carter said.

Ragusa, who transferred to Martinez Middle School in Lutz this school year, now teaches seventh-grade math. The school's Web site lists her as a teacher on the Arabian Broncos teaching team.

An arrest affidavit from investigators says the victim's story was verified by his knowledge of tattoos of a flower and a bug on Ragusa that are visible only if she is unclothed.

Also, she admitted their relationship and her awareness of the potential risk involved in a monitored telephone call with the victim, the affidavit states.

Ragusa has been on paid leave since February for reasons that have nothing to do with this matter, Hegarty said. The school system spokesman said he was not at liberty to discuss why.

Hired by Hillsborough County schools in July 2006, Ragusa worked at Madison Middle for a short time before transferring to Davidsen in the middle of the 2006-07 school year, Hegarty said.

Several of Ragusa's fellow teachers past and present declined to talk about her work Thursday night, in the hours after her 4:15 p.m. arrest.

Details about the teacher were scant as news of the accusation broke Thursday night.

Public records show Ragusa purchased a home last year at 15324 Lake Bella Vista Drive with Tony William Irvin.

Neither Irvin nor Ragusa's family could be reached Thursday night for comment. Court documents list both Ragusa and Irvin as single at the time of the purchase.

Ragusa, who is 5-foot-3 and 100 pounds, was booked into Orient Road Jail just after 9 p.m., charged with five counts of engaging in lewd or lascivious battery — one count for each sexual act, Carter said.

She was being held without bail. Hegarty said Ragusa has been suspended with pay, pending review of her case.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show she was arrested in 2005 on a DUI charge, though Hillsborough County's online court records indicated the charge was dismissed at trial.

State records also show a 2004 arrest in Pasco County on aggravated battery, but again, that charge appears to have been dropped, according to FDLE.

Ragusa is the third female teacher from Hillsborough County schools in recent years to be accused of having sex with a teenager they knew from school.

Former Wharton High School teacher and coach Jaymee Wallace was sentenced last year to three years in prison and three years of probation after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

And former Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave got three years of house arrest and seven years of probation after pleading guilty in 2005 to having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Hegarty said Thursday night that since news about Ragusa's arrest was just unfolding, it wasn't clear yet what action school administrators would be taking to inform parents about the latest incident.

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Rebecca Catalanello can be reached at rcatalanello@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3383.

Comments on this article

by Alan B	Mar 18, 2008 11:30 AM
Jim, I'm assuming you're referring to Jaymee Wallace as the "man having sex with a 15 year old girl" that got 3 and 3. Read again, Jaymee Wallace is female. Perhaps the double standard has more to do with sexual preference?

by John	Mar 18, 2008 11:30 AM
I had a relationship with a teacher from 14-17. It was great. I was even allowed to spend the weekend at their house under the guise of tutoring.

by sam	Mar 18, 2008 11:19 AM
why is suspend with pay.surpose to without pay.

by MegWeber	Mar 17, 2008 5:28 PM
P.S...her mug shot photo looks like she is happy and proud of what she has been involved with, she should at least show some kind of remorse...

by MegWeber	Mar 17, 2008 5:28 PM
I agree, they should be more picky when doing back ground checks on teachers and she should serve jail time, when the "victim" is under the age of consent or if it is teacher student related there needs to be major jail time...it is just wr

by Alicia	Mar 17, 2008 5:27 PM
The parents need to get more involved in these cases. If this was my son that picture would be of her with a toothless smile.

by tricia	Mar 17, 2008 2:55 PM
This teacher is a level 3 sex offender and should be treated as one by the law. She is 28, he is 14. If it were a 28 yr old male w/ a 14 yr old girl, he'd be in deep crap. Fair is fair. Let's see some prison time for these sex offenders.

by ME	Mar 17, 2008 2:49 PM
SUSPEND HER WITHOUT PAY!! SHAME ON HER!! WE SEND OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL TO BE SAFE AND GET AN EDUCATION!! NOT A SEX EDUCATION!! SEND HER TO THE ORIENT JAIL IN PASCO COUNTY!!! SHE'LL GET WHAT SHE DESERVES!!!

by r	Mar 17, 2008 2:34 PM
to many young teachers are showing to much fo their bodies. to many young middle & high school girls show off to much body parts. all these teaches need 5-10 years in jail.

by Beth	Mar 17, 2008 12:38 PM
We as parents have to be more watchfull and stress to our kids what wrong and right and what to do in these situations. Apparently we have alot of sick people in this world and we never know where it's coming from and to whom.

by m	Mar 17, 2008 12:34 PM
teachers are there to teach and thats all not to cross the line. i dont know what turns a woman to be with a small child. they should lock them all up together and see what they call all teach themselves maybe some manners and respect.

by John E. Kola	Mar 17, 2008 12:32 PM
Maybe if Ms. Lafave would have done ten in the pen, as a man would have to do, it would be a deturent to others.

by MJD	Mar 17, 2008 12:07 PM
...and the problem here is?????

by jeff	Mar 17, 2008 10:40 AM
I don't care, boys are just more ready for sex at a young age. It is a double standard, but it's true.

by Nan	Mar 17, 2008 10:39 AM
I agree with Steve. The school system in Hillsborough County sucks. Start with the top and get rid of the superintendent and other administrators, then the teachers. Problem solved.

by MightyJoe	Mar 17, 2008 10:31 AM
OMG! This kid hit the jackpot! This should not be a crime (unless she was dog ugly). I wish this had happened to me when I was his age. Any guy who disagrees should have his "man card" taken away.

by Patrick	Mar 17, 2008 10:26 AM
The accused is a woman, so the punishment will surely be a slap on the wrist.

by Tom	Mar 17, 2008 10:26 AM
I would not be all that upset if my 14 year old son had sex with his teacher. However, I am curious to know what is the mental state of this teacher? If she desire to have sex with children, then she probably is not a very good teacher. Fire Her!

by Danny	Mar 17, 2008 10:23 AM
Where were these teachers when I was in school?

by Christopher Sanabria	Mar 17, 2008 10:20 AM
Enough already, what's wrong with these people. we need to look at the system better, they keep molesting kids and getting off easy. Drop the bomb and see how fast they stop!!

by Skye	Mar 17, 2008 10:14 AM
I have been a teacher for MANY years. WE don't HIRE these fools!! Admin. hires teachers off the streets nowadays with NO teaching credentials. They take a 3 week course and yippee- they're "teachers". We have to put up wit

by alan	Mar 17, 2008 9:49 AM
i agree with others the teachers need to be older and less attractive ..though i had one that would knock your socks off... just one,,but she was not having a student .for lunch ..she married the coach,,, and shes a free women today,,,

by Anon	Mar 17, 2008 9:47 AM
Sounds like the other Anon, knew about this, which means, the former schools knew as well. There is where the investigation should turn and annihilate ALL teachers unions. They are worthless and craven.

by ladyT	Mar 17, 2008 9:38 AM
This is SICK......PLEASE No more slaps on the wrist.....KEEP HER LOCKED UP...SHE IS A DANGER TO OUR CHILDREN.

by Mike	Mar 14, 2008 11:24 PM
I'm retired from public ed from another state. This is so sickening. We wouldn't buy a bottle of wine in the same county for fear the impressionable minors would see us.By the way, what was the relevance of the alleged perpetrators height a

by sheral	Mar 14, 2008 11:18 PM
This dissopoints me in many ways. the thought my daughter looked up to this woman from the beggining of the school year.Thinking she wasent like the rest of the teachers she had in that school.When i saw her i the news i new my daughter was upset.

by Mike	Mar 14, 2008 11:18 PM
Back in the day when i was in school all of the teachers looked like my Grandmother . Not a pretty sight! We never had a problem with a teen boy & Female teacher. Quit hiring Teachers just barely older than their students.

by Auntie Orwell	Mar 14, 2008 8:29 PM
Biologically mature primates mate-horrifying.4000 American soldiers and untold Iraqi civilians are dead for NO GOOD REASON-completely normal?Why is sex terrible and mass murder to take resources "good"??14 yr old is adult in nonin

by Jim	Mar 14, 2008 6:24 PM
I find it interesting that, in the same county, a man having sex with a 15 year old girl gets 3 yrs jail, 3 yrs probation but a woman having sex with a 14 year old boy gets 3 yrs house arrest and 7 yrs probation, but no jail time. Double standard?

by jasin	Mar 14, 2008 6:23 PM
What do they have to do to get suspended without pay...make the union mad and vote Republican?

by stpetejeff	Mar 14, 2008 4:43 PM
wish I would of had a teacher like that!

by Dawb	Mar 14, 2008 3:21 PM
California education officials say their state needs 52,000 more teachers. We are all facing a huge teacher shortage. In fact, by the year 2009, many students will be forced to have sex with each other." Jay Leno

by b	Mar 14, 2008 1:37 PM
maybe these teachers need to be monitored every month. these stories are not comforting to hear.that's why theres so many kids being home-schooled. who the hell would want to send their child anywhere with all these sick people out here.

by Shane	Mar 14, 2008 1:29 PM
Niiiiiiiiiice

by Sarah	Mar 14, 2008 1:26 PM
Who looks at a 14-year boy and says to themselves "Him! I bet he's a great lover." ??