A Hillsborough County teacher arrested on charges of molesting two underage boys allegedly tried to frame the guards at the Orient County Jail. A jail informant stated that Stephanie Ragusa is accused of cutting herself and planning to blame the resulting injury on the guards. The authorities removed Ragusa from her cell and placed her into the medical ward for behavioral observation.
After the inmates' removal, the guards searched the cell and found contraband. Jail made alcohol and tattooing materials were found. Medical personnel stated that the defendant had exhibited "additional manipulative behavior". Ragusa is currently being held in administrative confinement.
Authorities arrested the former teacher in 2008 for allegedly having sex with two students. A 14-year old boy came forth with allegations of sexual abuse. Two weeks after her arrest, the defendant drove to another student's home, that of a 16-year old boy, for sex. Both victims were able to positively identify three tattoos on Ragusa's body. She is awaiting trial on two counts of sexual molestation charges while in jail without bond.
Florida statute defines lewd and lascivious molestation as the intentionally touching of the private area of a child. For children ages 12 through 16, this crime is a second degree felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Research states that over 1.3 million children are sexually assaulted each year with over 95% of them knowing the perpetrator. Most child molesters are statistically male who work in an environment around children.
If you have been questioned or charged in a crime against a child, contact an experienced Tampa sex offense attorney. My firm possesses over 100 years of combined legal experience and has handled an uncountable level of sex crime cases. I understand that there are often factors that contribute to an offender's arrest through no fault of their own. Investigators could persuade a well meaning child into a faulty confession or a teen could make allegations out of spite. The possibilities are endless. The crime of a sexual offense against a child is a disturbing allegation; however, I understand that the charges are not always the crime. Contact a knowledgeable Tampa sex crime attorney for help with your case today.
