Former Teacher Receives 10 Years for Sex With Students

TAMPA, Fla.—A former math teacher at Davidsen Middle School convicted of having sex with two of her students was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday.

Stephanie Ragusa, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of lewd and lascivious battery in April involving a 14-year-old boy and, and two counts of having unlawful sex with a minor involving a 16-year-old student, reports ABC News. The incidents occurred in 2008.

Ragusa had access to the students’ charts and learned that both came from broken homes and had emotional disabilities, according to the prosecution.

The defendant had her first encounter with the 14-year-old when he had been assigned to push her wheelchair around after she broke her foot. Prosecutors said she told him that she could help him overcome his shyness, and the two had sex in her apartment. They had three sexual encounters that spanned the school year that ended in May 2007.

Ragusa had intercourse with the other victim about 20 times, authorities said. She continued to engage in acts with the 16-year-old even after she had been arrested and told to stay away from him. Additionally, Ragusa bought the victim clothing, named him executor of her will and confessed her love to him in a love letter.

The psychiatrist for the former teacher testified that Ragusa has bipolar and borderline personality disorders. Ragusa also told the court that she is on five different medications.

Additionally, when released, Ragusa will be placed on five years of sexual offender probation.

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