Lafave Rejects Plea Deal, Date Set For Trial
By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
Published: Jul 18, 2005
TAMPA - A prosecutor and defense attorney stood in court on Monday to say they could not come to a pre-trial deal in the case of Debra Lafave, the Greco Middle School teacher accused of having sex with her 14-year-old student.
``Negotiations have broken off and now it's going to trial,'' defense attorney John Fitzgibbons said after the hearing. ``It's time to tee it up.''
Judge Wayne Timmerman set a trial date for Dec. 5. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
If convicted, Lafave, 24, could face up to 15 years in prison on each of two charges of lewd and lascivious battery.
Fitzgibbons said the prosecution's plea deal involved ``significant prison time'' and he found that unacceptable.
``To place Debbie into a Florida state women's penitentiary, to place an attractive young woman in that kind of hell hole, is like putting a piece of raw meat in with the lions,'' Fitzgibbons said.
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By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
Published: Jul 18, 2005
TAMPA - A prosecutor and defense attorney stood in court on Monday to say they could not come to a pre-trial deal in the case of Debra Lafave, the Greco Middle School teacher accused of having sex with her 14-year-old student.
``Negotiations have broken off and now it's going to trial,'' defense attorney John Fitzgibbons said after the hearing. ``It's time to tee it up.''
Judge Wayne Timmerman set a trial date for Dec. 5. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
If convicted, Lafave, 24, could face up to 15 years in prison on each of two charges of lewd and lascivious battery.
Fitzgibbons said the prosecution's plea deal involved ``significant prison time'' and he found that unacceptable.
``To place Debbie into a Florida state women's penitentiary, to place an attractive young woman in that kind of hell hole, is like putting a piece of raw meat in with the lions,'' Fitzgibbons said.
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