Stephanie Ragusa is a convicted sex offender.
The former teacher served six years in prison for having sex with two middle school students.
She gained notoriety in part because she is attractive and because she had a perpetual smirk on her face, even when facing serious charges in court.
Ragusa was back in a Hillsborough County courtroom on Tuesday, accused of violating her probation by meeting a 12-year-old girl at a Hooters restaurant in Clearwater.
During a hearing, an assistant state attorney admitted in court the state could not prove Ragusa intentionally set up the meeting with the 12-year-old and that it appeared it was an accidental encounter and that Ragusa removed herself from the situation once she realized what was going on.
Judge Nick Nazaretian still gave Ragusa a stern warning about not violating the terms of her probation.
“The condition is, it says no contact with children. You need to focus on that along with your other conditions. Do you understand?” said Nazaretian
Ragusa answered in a clear and firm voice, “Yes sir, I do,” the smirk was gone from her face.
Earlier in the day, Benito Middle School teacher Alex Jeffrey Hull was in a different Hillsborough courtroom.
The 31-year-old is also charged with having sex with two middle school students.
Hull is facing multiple counts of sexual battery, lewd and lascivious conduct and giving obscene materials to minors.
Some of the charges carry a life sentence in prison.
Hull’s bond was set at $325,000 by a Hillsborough judge.
