Wed, June 30, 2004

More than dirty looks

Teacher accused of sex with 14-year-old pupil

By AP

A NEWLYWED Florida teacher has been charged with having sex with a 14-year-old student -- in a classroom, in her apartment and once in her SUV while his 15-year-old cousin drove. Debra Beasley Lafave, 23, surrendered to police Monday and was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery and one count of lewd and lascivious exhibition. She was released on $25,000 bail.

Last week the reading teacher was charged with two counts of committing lewd and lascivious battery for allegedly having sex with the teen in a portable classroom at Greco Middle School.

Authorities say Lafave, who has been married less than a year, had sex with a student in the back of her sport utility vehicle while the student's 15-year-old cousin drove them around Ocala.

TATTOOS, BIRTHMARKS

Detectives said the boy and his cousin provided matching statements incriminating the teacher. The 14-year-old was able to identify tattoos and birthmarks on Lafave's body and the layout of her apartment.

The teen told investigators that he and Lafave got to know each other on their way back from a middle school graduating class trip to SeaWorld Orlando last month.

He said that she would invite him to her class during detention and ended up taking him to his basketball practices at a recreation centre, to get his hair cut and to his house, the report said.

Lafave gave the boy her cellphone number on the last day of school, the boy told detectives. The sexual relationship allegedly began on June 3. The boy told detectives that Lafave told him her marriage was in trouble and she was aroused by the fact that having sex with him was not allowed.

 

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/06/30/519962.html