Accused sex teacher all smiles in court

Tampa, Florida - A former Tampa teacher accused of molesting two boys, went back to court on Thursday.

29-year-old Stephanie Ragusa sat in the courtroom with a big smile on her face.

The judge ruled the prosecution will be allowed to use a 17 minute taped conversation between her and a 14-year-old boy.

The defense argued against using the tapes, because law enforcement was not present when the boy and his father recorded the conversation.

Officers were not present because after the victim left a message on Ragusa's phone, she did not call back right away. The officers instructed the victim and his family on how to use the recording device and left for the evening.

Ragusa returned the phone call and was recorded by the victim, the officers returned the next morning and took possession of the recorded conversation.

Several times in the recording, Ragusa admits she knows the relationship is illegal.

Here's an excerpt;

Ragusa: The age it's illegal.

boy: Illegal for what?

Ragusa: It would be all over, what?

boy: Illegal for what? what did you say?

Ragusa: it's illegal it would be all over the news and everything.

The 29-year-old teacher was arrested on March 13, 2008 and charged with having sex at least three times with the 14-year-old boy.

Ragusa was released on bail and then re-arrested on charges she had sex with another student starting when he was 15 years old.

Officers say two weeks after her second arrest, Ragusa drove to the second teen's house and had sex with him, again. Ragusa's bail was revoked.

Ragusa is charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery, four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.