Woman Faces Charges After Boy Makes Accusations
TAMPA -- A Tampa-area middle school teacher is under arrest, accused of having sex with a student.
Reading teacher Debra Beasley LaFave, 23, is a newlywed who is accused of performing oral sex on a 14-year-old student at Greco Middle School twice in the past month.
LaFave (pictured left, in wedding photo) is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail on $15,000 bail.
The 2002 graduate of the University of South Florida was married 11 months ago.
Temple Terrace police said that LaFave was arrested at her home after the 14-year-old boy told his mother the allegations. LaFave was reportedly never the boy's teacher.
At her first court appearance, Judge W.R. Heinrich warned LaFave about the media attention on her.
"Don't talk," Heinrich said. "The press is here. They have cameras. They have print media, and they're going to take down everything that you would say. That would not be in your best interest."
LaFave's attorney, Fred Vollrath, said, "She has no prior arrest record. She's an outstanding member of the community. She's lived here all her life. We'll have to see what happens as we conduct the investigation."
Lafave's husband and parents accompanied the attorney to the courthouse.
Lafave has been placed on administrative leave and is expected to be suspended without pay at a school board meeting next month.
2004-06-28, 03:32 PM
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