Por (Rhonda Coleman) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Much to lenient!!  Too many young white female criminals getting off with no jail time. First the Porter case and now Lafave.  I am a white female and don’t think they should get off so easy, this would not be the case with men or black females.  I guess all it takes in Florida is be young, white and pretty.

Por (carmen lavin) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I thought it was fair. If she slips, she can then go to jail.

Por (Kelly) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I think she should go to prison.  I think her sentence is way too lenient.  This is going to show all the other psychos in this world that like to have sex with children, that it is possible to do this, and just get a slap on the hand.  She got away with breaking the law.  This really makes a parent not want to send their children to school, because of people like her.  How do we know that something like this won’t happen to our child?  I I think she should have been sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole.  She is an animal that preys on young children.

Por (frank nugent) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

money can’t buy you love , but it will buy you freedom, I know that the same thing wouldn’t happened if a man would had committed the same crime,the disgust the community would have been short of a hanging,  but what do I know a young white female… did we had something like that a few weeks ago but the victims had no voice, maybe is just the way the LAW reads if you have money… and the Victim!!!

Por (rosemary) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Okay…too pretty for prison time? I knew our judicial system was in turmoil…But this is truly shameful and sending out the wrong messge.If it were male offender and female victim would the sentencing have been the same? Doubtful…well..maybe if he were goodlooking..right?

Por (Tony) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

If she can do the crime, she should do the time.  The Hillsborough justice system is a joke.  First Jennifer Porter, now Debra Lafave.  If you are a cute caucasian female, you can commit a crime and not have to worry about going to jail.  If you are wondering, I am caucasian myself.

Por (Mel Holmes) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

The court got this one correct.  I know people wanted her to be punished, but community control and probation will be very difficult for her to complete.  The many requirements she faces under CC supervision will limit what she can do and where she can do them.  With the zero tolerance policy imposed by the department, she has no flexibility and must adhere completely to the conditions the court has ordered.  The judge, the lawyers deserve kudos for making the right decision.  I agree 100% to the decision.

Por (Mark) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

In my opinion, this is another example of the double standards within our society.  If this had been a male teacher and a female student or even a less attractive female teacher, you better believe there would have been a jail sentence.  If you are famous and/or beautiful, you can do no wrong.

Por (Stephanie) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Ridiculous! So, I should have accepted the advances students made to me when I was teaching? What kind of demented message are we sending to our children, and more importantly to sexual deviants? Go out, get your kicks, and if you are an attractive, young, white woman you will be able to enjoy a nice little vacation at the home your ex-husband paid for. While you’re at it, become a cheerleader and go buck wild in a club!

Por (Geoffrey Donahoe) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

This just is not right!  If it was a 23 year old male teacher having sex with a 14 year old female student, he would have done time in prison without a doubt.  I think with the two recent decisions of the local courts one thing is clear.  If you are a woman and have some money to get a good lawyer, you can avoid jail time no matter what the crime.

Por (Antoinette Nielson) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I don’t believe prison time would be the appropriate punishment but yet I do believe her sentencing was too lenient.
Betraying students, family and society is worst thing anyone could do. Although the most important thing is she will be out of the school system and not be a predator to our children, the slap on the rest doesn’t protect our children from others like her in the future.

Por (Vinnie) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

What sentence would a male schoolteacher hve gotten in this case?

Por (Lahonna Bridges) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

The media court battle for release of documents in this case has hampered justice and you should be ashamed.

Por (Michael) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Our judicial system is an embarrassment.  She did a perverted crime.  She had sex with a minor.  Has our society forgot what that means.  She is a sexual predator.  Being a pretty white women is now an excuse for a child harming crime.  This is a sad day for America.

Por (Tom) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Debra Lafave received no jail time while another beautiful blonde teacher, Pamela Turner, was sentenced to a meager nine months. Equal justice for all? Definately not. If they were male teachers they would have each spent years behind bars and be the target of the myriad sexual predator stories each ratings sweeps month on television.

Por (Jackie) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I am glad that my dad is not still alive because this would have made him very sad as he taught at Greco in the 70’s.  I also am a former Hillsborough County teacher who is now a librarian in a rural junior-senior high school, and I feel that the problem lies in teacher education programs nationwide.  Much more screening has to be done to insure that our children are put into the hands of the most stable, best possible adults who can teach the subject passionately and view children, especially junior high and high school students, objectively as students to be taught, not individuals with whom you can become personally involved.

Por (David) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I was shocked to read of the plea agreement that Debra Lafave got from the prosecutors and approved by the presiding judge.  Despite the fact that Debra committed a real bad criminal act against this boy, she doesn’t have to go to jail.  She didn’t showed any remorse for ruining this boy’s life.  The judge telling her that deserve to spent many years in jail was meaningless and empty.  Now, other sexual predators can look to this case and have hope of getting off.

Por (Aaron) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Critics of this decision are focusing too much on the trees, and not enough on the forrest.  It’s inappropriate to stick a first-time offender like this in prison for this type of offense.  Her lawyer was absolutly correct in saying that she does not belong there with those other vial women.  Our prisons are terribly overcrowded and need to be reserved for people who truly pose a threat to our society, like drug dealers & murderers.  This 14 year-old is no saint.  He’s a teenager that willing consented to sexual intercourse with his teacher.  Wake up and smell the coffee people.  The punishment she got is no cake ride.  Being labeled a sexual predator is a terrible stigma.

Por (ROBIN COLBERT-CICCARELLO) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

WHAT HAS THE WORLD GONE TO….WHY IS SHE ANY DIFFERENT THAN JOHN COUEY OR JOSPEPH SMITH!!!! SHE IS A CHILD MOLESTER….AND SHOULD BE IN PRISON.  FOR GOD SAKE THEY PUT MEN IN PRISON FOR DRIVING ON A REVOKED DRIVERS LISCENSE, BUT CAN LET A MOLESTER GO…SO WHAT IF SHE IS PRETTY, DIDN’T MAKE HER STOP BEING SICK AND DEMENTED.

I AM ASHAMED OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PROCECUTION AND THE WHOLE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

I AM A WHITE PRETTY FEMALE, AND TAKE OFFENSE TO EVERYTHING.

Por (Anonymous) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

As someone who has lived in the same community as the Beasley family for a while, I am grateful for her parents that this ordeal is over. They have been through a lot since this started. I hope that Debra gets the help she needs. I also hope that the victim’s family can find some sort of closure.

Por (Joan) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

Much too soft - you know the old saying “money talks - bs walks”

Por (Jeff) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I am surprised at the number of people who didn’t expect this outcome…of course it would have been different had this been a male teacher with a female student! The media would have portrayed the male teacher as a monster, published the worst photos of him, most likely altered to give him the appearance of a demented stalker…with an attractive woman, they published her swimsuit pictures, and who really believes that a teenage boy seduced by an older woman is a victim?!

Grow up folks, and recognize what we allow the media to do…there is NOTHING fair and balanced in this world, and money and good looks are usually enough to get you the good press you need to beat the system…

Por (Julia) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I think if she washed the pounds of make-up off of her face and let her hair grow out in it’s natural color she’ll do just fine in jail.  She’s a clown.  Debra, stay away from my sons.

Por (julie peterson) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I feel that Debra got off very easy and should have gotten some jail time. This person broke the law and she should be punished just like anyone else who breaks the law,especially as a sex offender.Man or woman,with regards to their physical appearance that break the law, should be punished. As far as her future goes,I would be embarrased not only for debra,but for her mother and father.

Por (Tiffany) on November 22, 2005 (Suggest removal)

I think it’s outragous. I myself am extremely attractive.(and a mom of 5) I don’t think it should be a reason to get away with a disgusting act, like she did. She should be in jail. Does this mean anyone of above average looks can get away with this?? What are we thinking???