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Lafave's life will never be the same

The former teacher avoided prison but can't avoid the stigma of being a sex offender.

By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published November 24, 2005

TAMPA - The spotlight will fade, but her neighbors will always know. People might stop staring, but someone will always be checking on her.

No matter where she goes, life will not be the same for Debra Lafave.

The former middle school teacher achieved instant notoriety when she was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student. On Tuesday, a judge sentenced her to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation.

Now classified as a sex offender, Lafave, 25, avoided prison, but she won't be living on Easy Street.

"We've gotten over one hurdle with this matter in the criminal justice system, but now the ramification of being a sexual offender will be with Debbie for 10 years or longer," said her attorney, John Fitzgibbons.

The biggest complication for Lafave could be a requirement that she place her name on the state's sex offender registry. The database contains the names and addresses of sex offenders and some details of their charges. It is available to the public on the Internet.

Many sex offenders manage to remain relatively anonymous. But for a woman whose image has been beamed around the world and plastered on the front pages of newspapers, the registry could prove not just invasive but dangerous.

"Debbie and my office have received literally hundreds of letters from all over the country, and some of these letters are disturbing," Fitzgibbons said. "I really don't want to get into the details, but that could be a concern if people know where she lives."

Dr. Fred Berlin, a Johns Hopkins University professor, said reintegrating into society is always difficult for sex offenders.

Founder of the university's Sexual Disorders Clinic, Berlin said that Lafave, like most female offenders, is unlikely to repeat her behavior, but her battle with mental illness and the scrutiny of her case will present extra challenges.

"As a society, we try not to have these situations repeat themselves," he said, "but sometimes we put up so many obstacles and challenges that it makes it difficult for them not to repeat this behavior or do other things. It affects their self-esteem. It affects their ability to earn a living and find a comfortable place to live."

Lafave, who lives in southeast Hillsborough County with her parents, will soon seek her own place, Fitzgibbons said.

As a sex offender, Lafave is barred from living within 1,000 feet of a school, a playground or other areas where children gather. In a county with nearly 200 parks, 400 day care centers, 240 public schools and 1,200 churches that may have youth centers, that will make house-hunting tough. There is an establishment every half a square mile that she can't be near.

Lafave will also be barred from seeking employment in places near children. And since many employers require applicants to disclose whether they've been convicted of a felony, Lafave's job search won't be easy.

Then there's her celebrity status.

"She goes to the mall, and people point to her, and people come up to her," Fitzgibbons said. "Now, as she begins to look for work and a job, that's going to be a problem because wherever she works, she's going to be the center of attention."

Besides psychological therapy, annual polygraphs and unannounced visits from her probation officer, she will have to submit to an HIV test. Lafave must give a blood sample to authorities so that her DNA can be registered in a statewide database. She also must abide by a 10 p.m. curfew.

Even Hillsborough prosecutor Michael Sinacore said the road ahead for Lafave will be difficult.

"If somebody successfully makes it through sex offender probation, they probably deserve a break," he said after Tuesday's sentencing. "More often than not, they do not make it."

Times staff writer Matt Waite and researchers Caryn Baird and Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Candace Rondeaux can be reached at 813 226-3337 or rondeaux@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 24, 2005, 00:36:20]