home

Lafave Charges Dismissed

by TChris

Debra Lafave was placed on probation in Hillsborough County, Florida for having sex with a minor student. As a condition of probation, she must serve three years of home confinement. That wasn't good enough for Judge Hale Stancil, who rejected a proposed agreement to have Lafave serve essentially the same penalty in a separate prosecution in Marion County, where Lafave allegedly had sexual contact with the same boy in an SUV. The deal, Judge Stancil said, "shocks the conscience of this court."

The agreement was proposed in large part because the minor doesn't want to testify in this well-publicized case. A psychiatrist told the judge that testifying would be harmful for the child, but the judge apparently thought the need to punish Lafave more harshly outweighed any harm that might be inflicted on the child if the case proceeded to trial. Today the prosecutor in Marion County decided to dismiss the charge.

Assistant State Attorney Richard Ridgway, in explaining the decision to drop the charges, said: "The court may be willing to risk the well-being of the victims in this case in order to force it to trial. I am not."

< Michael Skakel to Appeal to Supreme Court | Moussaoui Lawyers Ask Judge to Clarify Ruling >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#1)
    by Punchy on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 03:14:12 PM EST
    Let me get this straight--it shocks the conscience of the court to accept the plea bargain, but not to have the case dropped entirely. So instead of some modicum of justice, there's none. Yeah, that's logical. Related...anyone curious as me as to how Bill O'Liely will touch this one? The Self-Appointed Child Abuse Judge Expert will need to say something unless he wants to become The Self-Appointed Hypocrite.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#2)
    by jen on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 03:24:59 PM EST
    Good for that prosecutor! Boo on the judge. A bird in the hand and all that. It is awful when the justice system rides roughshod over children just for the sake of grandstanding. Was that judge appointed or elected?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 04:07:52 PM EST
    If genders were reversed, what would have happened?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#4)
    by jen on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 04:27:10 PM EST
    they would have gone ahead and destroyed the little girl

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 04:55:22 PM EST
    I'm not trying to be crude or anything but the idea that a sixteen-year-old boy would be traumatized by telling the public about his liasons with Ms. Lafave is just daft. Right now he is probably the most envied kid amongst his male peers and I'm sure he has related his tale to many a young man on his sports teams and in his social circles. OK so that does sound crude but it is an honest opinion and yes I do believe that it is different for boys than it is for girls. This has been a scenario used in popular music for years, ie: 'Don't Stand So Close' by The Police, 'Hot for teacher', Van Halen?, 'Angel In The Centerfold', J. Geils Band. I can't speak for women on this subject but I think I can speak for heterosexual men; Ms Lafave is every hetero-young man's dream come true and I believe he didn't want to testify because he didn't want to see his older paramour put into jail because he appreciated her, um, efforts. If you're a guy that disagrees with me please make an effort to locate your misplaced cohones and if you're a woman you have to admit that sometime in your life you had a crush on an older guy. Bottom line? Boys and girls are as different as men and women.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#6)
    by jimcee on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:01:38 PM EST
    Or as Joe Jackson sang..., 'Don't you know that its different for girls...'

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:27:23 PM EST
    Posted by jimcee March 21, 2006 05:55 PM
    I'm not trying to be crude or anything but the idea that a sixteen-year-old boy would be traumatized by telling the public about his liasons with Ms. Lafave is just daft. Right now he is probably the most envied kid amongst his male peers and I'm sure he has related his tale to many a young man on his sports teams and in his social circles.
    Ya mean testosterone acts differently than estrogen! I'm puttin' you in for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry right now, Jimcee. In fact, there must be a blog award with your name on it.
    OK so that does sound crude but it is an honest opinion and yes I do believe that it is different for boys than it is for girls. This has been a scenario used in popular music for years, ie: 'Don't Stand So Close' by The Police, 'Hot for teacher', Van Halen?, 'Angel In The Centerfold', J. Geils Band.
    Gee, if 1981 and 1984 ever come 'round again, you can make a lotta money predicting the top 10. Hitler thinkin' Jews, Slavs and Gypsys were Untermenschen was an honest opinion on his part, too, pal. That didn't make it so.
    I can't speak for women on this subject but I think I can speak for heterosexual men; Ms Lafave is every hetero-young man's dream come true and I believe he didn't want to testify because he didn't want to see his older paramour put into jail because he appreciated her, um, efforts.
    And they say it's a Man's World. Not this trip. Lucky you, girls.
    If you're a guy that disagrees with me please make an effort to locate your misplaced cohones and if you're a woman you have to admit that sometime in your life you had a crush on an older guy.
    Well, I'd be inclined to agree with ya except for this one thing, ya see, I'm not 15 anymore. I don't need stridex or clearasil, I don't drink cream or orange soda and I don't weigh 130 pounds soaking wet. I'm not a kid. Either is she. End of story.
    Bottom line? Boys and girls are as different as men and women.
    Thanks for clearin' that up.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#8)
    by jimcee on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:35:10 PM EST
    Yawn... Charlie is back in all his doltish glory.... Yawn.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:39:55 PM EST
    Yeah, you're child's play. No, that's not true. That would be several steps up for you.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#10)
    by Sailor on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 05:40:06 PM EST
    Uhh, 'Don't Stand So Close' was about a girl seducing a male teacher. Maybe girls and boys aren't as far apart as you think. I agree, when I was 14 (not 16) doing it with a teacher would have been awsome. And I sure wouldn't have wanted to get her in trouble. But the case is about the adult, not the kid. I'd say give the kid a hand ... but that's all he's got left;-)

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimcee on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 06:02:21 PM EST
    Sailor, Well put. I was that kid, enough said. And I do have a friend who was a young woman whom 'Don't Stand So Close' could have been her theme song. By the way we are still friends and both of us have had fairly normal lives with families and kids and all.... The young man was in no way ruined by his liasons with Ms Lafave excepting that he'll probably never date such a hot chick again. Poor guy.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#12)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Mar 21, 2006 at 09:21:49 PM EST
    That is the biggest load of hypocritical, sexist BS I have witnessed in a long time. C'mon hypocrites. She f***ing RAPED THAT KID, right? If this were a man, you'd castrate him! Doesn't she at least need some counseling? They just let her go!

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#13)
    by jen on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 03:07:00 AM EST
    sixteen is not adult. one kid might love it, that doesnt mean the next wont be traumatized.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 04:47:24 AM EST
    While I have no doubt believing your life peaked at 16, jimcee, and that "fairly normal" is a subjective term, it is not one I would associate with you under any conditions.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#15)
    by Slado on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 06:34:53 AM EST
    Jimcee is only realating what 75-90% of men would say.... "who's the victim?" Every time one of these stories comes out I get 10 emails from my high school buddies and we all remember Mrs. X or Ms. Y and how unfortunate it was that we she wasn't a sexual predator that took advantage of us. However she is a criminal if she committed these crimes and should be punished. But if the kid doesn't want to take the stand what can the state do?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 06:51:31 AM EST
    "I can't speak for women on this subject..." Right. So don't. I ask all you bedpost-knotched types: are you positive such an experience wouldn't effect you in adverse ways later - like totally screw up your attitudes toward women? your future sexual relationships? cause you to objectify women? boost your egos undeservedly?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#17)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 07:29:13 AM EST
    People like Jimcee should start a club. Men-who-F**k-boys is one. How about sex-offense-hypocrites? You could be a dating service for teenage boys looking for adult women. Start with female prosecutors. That way you're safe from the same rabid, nearly violent persecution and life long labeling that would happen to a male adult for grabbing the ass of an underage girl. This thread reeks of the stench of blatant sexism. Take your heads out of your asses.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#18)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 07:34:52 AM EST
    Make that reverse sexism. That is if anyone can comprehend that concept without jacking off.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#19)
    by Patrick on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 08:17:36 AM EST
    C'mon hypocrites. She f***ing RAPED THAT KID, right?
    Statutory rape to be sure. Yes there's a double standard, has always been and will always be. It isn't "enlightened" to deny the reality of situation.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 09:15:51 AM EST
    So the boy may have enjoyed it, maybe he didn't. Doesn't make for a legal defense, nor should it (imagine saying the same about a 14 year old girl, who may, in fact, have enjoyed it). Sex with a minor is a crime, and should be punishable by identical standards irrespective of the perpetrator's or victim's gender. Haven't yet read here a viable argument to the contrary.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#21)
    by Slado on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 09:47:48 AM EST
    Southerner I agree with you even though i wishh Mrs. X had commited a crime in my Calculus Class many years ago. KAsh you bring up a good point. IF this was a first experience it could very well screw up someones expectations etc... but the point that most guys would love to find out is still valid. Nothing wrong with admitting that in reality sex crimes by women against men is not the same as men vs. women. Also the age of the child does play a big part. 13 or 14 is a much bigger deal then 17.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 02:06:37 PM EST
    I wonder if the responses here would be the same if it was a female boss and a male employee, or a female general and a male private. To me it is an issue of power, real or perceived.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 03:35:10 PM EST
    WHAT IF: her victim had been a 14-year-old girl? WHAT IF a male teacher had sex with a 14-year-old boy?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#24)
    by maddendude on Thu Mar 23, 2006 at 01:24:28 AM EST
    She didnt Rape him like some people are saying. It was consensual sex. He had sex with her 2 or 3 times, and each time it was consensual. If he was traumatized by it, he would've at least stopped after the first time.What would've traumatized him was testifying infront of america. So good decision on his mothers part in my opinion.

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 23, 2006 at 03:52:03 AM EST
    I ask all you bedpost-knotched types: are you positive such an experience wouldn't effect you in adverse ways later - like totally screw up your attitudes toward women? your future sexual relationships? cause you to objectify women? boost your egos undeservedly
    what??!! He "brushed" his teacher; if that ego boost is undeserved, what does a minor have to do nowadays to get a wee bit of self-esteem?? ;-)

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 23, 2006 at 07:09:12 AM EST
    "It was consensual sex." Well DUH Madden, you ought to know by now that an under age child cannot consent. There actually is a good reason for that. Children are by definition just that. They don't have the brain development of adults. Some of you guys still don't have adult-developed brains - and some still live in the fantasies of your masturbatory puberty. But.. if this were your son? your daughter?

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 23, 2006 at 09:52:34 AM EST
    Jimcee... I believe he didn't want to testify because he didn't want to see his older paramour put into jail because he appreciated her, um, efforts I agree 100%... nicely put. However, there is an obvious double standard here... she should have been 'punished' in some way!

    Re: Lafave Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 30, 2006 at 09:32:58 AM EST
    Not punished???? She is under house arrest for 3 years and will never have a teaching job again. What do you want, blood and money too????