Tampa teacher arrested, again!

By: Mario Diaz

Tampa, Florida - A Hillsborough County teacher accused of having sex with a student has been arrested again! 29-year-old Stephanie Ragusa is charged with Lewd or Lascivious Battery and two counts Sex with a Certain Minor.

Investigators say she was 27-years-old when she first had sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old. The child was Ragusa's student at Davidson Middle School in Tampa.

Superintendent Mary Ellen Elia was shocked when we first showed her the arrest report.

"Yes I am very disappointed that anything like this should be happening again in this county," said Elia.

Even though the night ended on a negative note Elia feels that school board took is trying to create a positive learning environment for kids.

"I think parents need to know that we are being positive when I say proactive. We are here to protect our students and that is the bottom line for this and the safety of our students is number one," says Elia.

Investigators say the defendant also provided the victim with a contraceptive for the sex act.

Here's how police describe the relationship between Ragusa and her student:

On March 10, 2008 the defendant and victim were communicating via cell phone text messages and they both agreed to meet at the victim's residence.

Investigator say they engaged in oral sex and sexual intercourse. During the "relationship," Deputies say Ragusa had sex with the child 20 times. They say she also gave him alcohol.

Investigators say the child positively identified the defendant and also positively identified two tattoos the defendant has which can only be seen when the defendant has no pants on.

A statement from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says, "Text messages obtained from a court authorized search warrant on the defendants cell phone verified the ongoing relationship between the victim and the defendant. the search warrant also verified the meeting between the victim and the defendant on March 10, 2008. "

Ragusa was arrested on similar charges in mid-March involving sex with a 14-year-old boy. To read more about that story, click here.