Tampa teacher rearrested on new sex charges

TAMPA — A former Davidsen Middle School teacher was re-arrested Tuesday night, accused of having sex more than 20 times with another of her students.

Stephanie Ragusa's smiling mug shot marked her second booking record in less than a month after authorities charged her Tuesday night with lewd or lascivious battery and two counts of sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Ragusa, 27 at the time, had sex with the boy on Feb. 15, 2007, at her home, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter stated in a news release. Ragusa provided the victim with a contraceptive, Carter said.

Last month, on March 10, the two communicated via cell phone text messages and agreed to meet again at the boy's home, Carter said. Again, they engaged in sex, and Ragusa gave the boy alcohol, she said.

Three days later, Ragusa was arrested on five counts of lewd and lascivious battery involving a different boy, a 14-year-old who turned 15 over the course of their relationship, officials said.

In that incident, investigators say Ragusa offered to help the boy overcome his shyness before bringing him back to her apartment and having sex with him.

Both victims told investigators about two tattoos in Ragusa's pelvic region, which are only visible without clothes, Carter said.

Hired by the school district in 2006, Ragusa, now 29, of Lake Bella Vista Drive in Tampa, was working at Martinez Middle as a math teacher when the charges were filed. She has been suspended without pay from her teaching job. She was being held on $22,500 bail late Tuesday.

Teacher accused of child porn resigns: Pierce Middle School science teacher Charles Young has resigned. He was arrested last week, charged with 60 counts of possession of child pornography, one for each image allegedly found on his computer after he loaned it to the school's resource officer. Young has been out of the classroom since late last year.

Rebecca Catalanello can be reached at (813) 226-3383 or rcatalanello@sptimes.com.

Comments on this article

by Nina	Apr 17, 2008 3:15 PM
I wonder how long it will take for it to be truly understood that boys being sexually advanced upon by women are not lucky; they're children being molested by adults.

by Stina	Apr 17, 2008 1:47 PM
This is NOT OK. Even if the boy was willing, it is still illegal. And this woman betrayed a position of trust, which is just as bad. SHE KNEW BETTER!!! And if you're going to troll for jailbait, don't do it in a classroom. So she'

by Josh	Apr 17, 2008 11:50 AM
Another news story that makes me smile from ear to ear knowing that I am leaving this state in a month and never to return

by kbd	Apr 17, 2008 10:17 AM
She needs to go to jail for a very long time. This is revolting. And the court system needs to take these pedifiles more seriously and give them stiffer sentences. THIS IS CHILD ABUSE. Boy or girl no matter, CHILD ABUSE!

by Linda	Apr 17, 2008 9:51 AM
A female molester is a pedophile. I don't care how many of you think it is OK for a woman to do this. It isn't. There is a double standard. She and any other pedophile that has sex with a child, deserves to go to jail.

by Billy Bob	Apr 17, 2008 9:49 AM
I'm considering opening a home and treatment center for these misguided women. If I play my cards right, I should be able to get millions from various gov't. agencies. Then in a few years, another huge scandal, but, I'll be in the Isla

by Dan	Apr 16, 2008 8:56 PM
To the fools defending her here; if 15 yrs old is ok, how about 14? Why not 13 or 12? Is any age too young for you perverts? And what if an underage boy "consents" to sex with an older man? Is that ok too with you sociopathic predators

by heehee	Apr 16, 2008 7:25 PM
I love the smile she flashed! She is just hilarious. She's no Lafave though, is she! She shouldnt take an inmates space in a crowded jail, but maybe she could be forced to clean one everyday!

by Leila	Apr 16, 2008 5:55 PM
This woman is truly sick. She probably became a teacher so that she could do this over & over again with all her students. I'm sure the kids weren't learning if their teacher was busy flirting & finding sexual partners during class.

by A.H.	Apr 16, 2008 3:37 PM
NO MORE BOND! She'll just get out of jail and do it again. See that face? She has no clue what she's done is wrong.

by Wayne	Apr 16, 2008 3:35 PM
What is the issue here? Jesus H. Christ let this nonsense go already - there was nothing wrong done here. This poor woman doesn't belong in jail.

by Anne	Apr 16, 2008 3:33 PM
I am a teacher, and I can't believe anyone would think having a sexual relationship with a student is appropriate. Remember the human brain is not fully formed until you are in your early twenties so these boys can't give rational consent

by JuJu	Apr 16, 2008 2:07 PM
All of the people saying "If this was a man..." have a jealous tone. Weird? Do you really wish there wasn't a double standard for your benefit?

by LittleBro	Apr 16, 2008 2:07 PM
Are you folks serious? You really don't see a difference between the "offender" being a man or woman? It's not a "double standard" - it's reality. If you don't know the difference, you don't know w

by Reeves	Apr 16, 2008 2:07 PM
Why do they call these willing boys victims?

by Mike	Apr 16, 2008 2:06 PM
I first I thought she was smiling because she craved the attention. Now I believe she is smiling because they only caught her for only two relationships. Bet she won't be smiling when they sentence her to 30 years. She is not that pretty just e

by Disgusted	Apr 16, 2008 2:04 PM
I agree about the Florida comment. Every time I turn on Nancy Grace or any other news network, there is something about Florida in there. Change the name of this state to "Trashastan."

by Cynthia	Apr 16, 2008 2:00 PM
The whole "If it was a man..." argument being posted by men makes me laugh because who do you think is setting that double standard? I can guarantee you there is not a single mother out there who would condone this behavior from ANYONE.

by tom	Apr 16, 2008 1:59 PM
No one was putting a gun to the kids/young adults heads were they??

by John	Apr 16, 2008 1:58 PM
There is a double standard based upon gender because the victim's resulting outcome is either trauma or elation, females and males respectively. 15-year-old boys long for these things to happen to them. It simply is different for each

by Pete	Apr 16, 2008 11:11 AM
Allow me to throw in my 2 cents. If the evidence is there, she should serve jail time. This is someone who preys on young boys, and she should be treated no differently than the men who are convicted of the same crime.

by Kevin	Apr 16, 2008 11:10 AM
The double-standard for sex offenders based on gender (beauty?) is astounding. What was she doing out on the street after the first charge? Meanwhile, Debra LaFave will be released from house arrest after only two years. If only the

by Laurie	Apr 16, 2008 10:30 AM
This woman needs to be in a psych ward!

by Jay	Apr 16, 2008 10:29 AM
She wont got to jail. If that was a man every person in Pinellas county would be after him. It's a woman, and men talk about how hot she is and they wish it was them. That's ridiculous... they are contributing with the problem by saying tha

by Del	Apr 16, 2008 10:16 AM
Will this one get jail time or is she "too pretty for jail?"

by Sara	Apr 16, 2008 10:10 AM
Unbelievable! Florida is starting to look more and more crazy and stupid. What a shame.

by Mark	Apr 16, 2008 10:09 AM
If this were a man, the entire community would want him castrated immediately. A woman? I see it's O.K.