Double Standard: Debra Lafave Off the Hook

Hours after a Marion County judge rejected a plea deal for Debra Lafave, the Florida middle school teacher accused of having sex with one of her 14-year-old students, state prosecutors dropped all charges against her to protect the victim in the case.

Marion County Judge Hale R. Stancil rejected Tuesday a plea deal that would have allowed Lafave to serve no jail time saying it would erode the public's confidence in the school system.

"Accepting the proposed plea agreement would undermine the credibility of this court, and the criminal justice system as a whole, and would erode public confidence in our schools," Judge Stancil said in his order.

Hours later Marion County prosecutors, who had requested the plea deal to keep the victim from having to testify in open court, dropped all charges against Lafave, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

"The court may be willing to risk the victim's well being in this case in order to force it to trial, I am not," said Ric Ridgway, chief assistant state attorney.

Lafave had faced charges of lewd and lascivious battery in both Marion and Hillsborough counties. A judge in Hillsborough County accepted the plea deal prosecutors offered after the mother of the victim asked that her son not have to go through the trauma of the media coverage of a trial.

But Judge Stancil refused to accept the same plea deal in Marion County, which would have sentenced admitted child molester Lafave to three years of house arrest followed by seven years of probation.

Statement From State Attorney's Office
The State Attorney's Office in Marion County, Florida dropped all charges against Debra Lafave related to her having sex with one of her 14-year-old students on March 21, 2005. The office issued this statement explaining it's actions.

See Also:
Double Standard in Lafave Case?
Debra Lafave: a Little Girl Dying for Attention
Debra LaFave Rewarded for Rape
Lafave Deal Rejected
LaFave Charges Dropped

Earlier Articles:
Judge Reconsiders Debra Lafave Plea Deal
Judge Rejects Debra Lafave's Plea Deal
Florida Child Molester Gets Probation
Teacher Who Had Sex With Teen Says She's Insane
Debra Lafave Turns Down Plea Deal

Forum:
Discuss this Case

Background:
Myths About Sexual Assault