Topic: Debra LaFave

Debra Jean LaFave, formerly Debra Jean Beasley, (born August 28, 1980) is an American model and former teacher at Angelo L. Greco Middle School in Temple Terrace, Florida, who pleaded guilty in 2005 to statutory rape charges stemming from her having sex with a 14-year-old student in 2004, when LaFave was 23 years old.

LaFave was raised in a small town near Tampa, Florida. LaFave has claimed that she was raped by a boyfriend when she was 13 years old. Nick Carter, former Backstreet Boy band member claimed that he lost his virginity to LaFave when he was 15 and LaFave was 14, after the two met in church. By age 15, she was drinking heavily and had developed an eating disorder. After reaching age 18, she briefly worked as a model for magazines. LaFave soon gave up modeling, however, and studied English at the University of South Florida, with the goal of becoming a teacher. She maintained a high B average in college, and after graduation she landed a job teaching English at a middle school in Temple Terrace, Florida. After her first year of teaching, she married Owen LaFave in 2003.

Investigating officers pursued the case after being notified by the 14-year-old boy's mother. Officers tape-recorded conversations between LaFave and the boy, then arrested her at their next meeting. Two separate sets of charges were filed, because the alleged incidents occurred in two different counties. A trial date was set after the defense would not agree on a plea bargain that involved prison time.