Last Wednesday the Judge listened to testimony by the DA from Hillsborough county and a court appointed Psychiatrist who interviewed the victim who was 14 at the time the alleged incident took place. They are asking the judge to accept this plea that includes no jail time because the victim and his mother want this to go away and Miss Lafave is too pretty to go to jail. The mother does not want the boy to testify. They feel he will teased at school and his identity might be found out. (I am confident that the courts will make sure his identity is protected.)

The plea bargain as it stands is similar to what a person may get for a shoplifting offense. THIS IS A SEXUAL ABUSE case and it cannot be looked upon lightly and “to just go away. By allowing Miss Lafave to walk away with no jail time, the court will be setting a precedent for other cases that follow. This is no better than Miss Lafave getting school detention and a curfew by her parents.

Miss Lafave is an adult and was an adult when she committed these crimes. A slap on the wrist and to allow her to walk out of the courtroom smiling and laughing in glee that she in essence” got away” with this crime would be a crime in itself.

As a mother of two teen age middle school children, I am asking this Judge to do what is right to protect all our children from predators like Miss Lafave. This was not a “date” she had with this boy, or “fun”, it was empowerment, an adult sexually taking advantage of a minor child. IT IS A CRIME!

No victim likes to testify, it is not fun and we all understand it will not be a pleasant experience. But if the boy and his mother stand up and do what is right, they will get more satisfaction and “closure” and they may help another child not be sexually abused by another teacher. I saw Mr. Owen Lafave, the former husband of Miss Lafave on Fox news Wednesday evening. He emphatically feels his x-wife needs jail time. He knows her better than any of us and we must trust his judgment that she needs to be punished for this shameful crime.

The parents of all children who put our faith, trust and our most valued commodities, Our children in the hands teachers, cannot allow this behavior to continue in this country. By sending Miss Lafave to jail for six to 12 months, it will send a message to others that this is a crime and you will be punished.

Signed,

Concerned Parents in Florida.

Marion County Judge Hale Stancil is expected to decide in the next seven to 10 days whether he will accept a guilty plea from Lafave, 25, that would allow her to serve three years under house arrest instead of behind bars.