As If Journalism Doesn’t Have Enough Problems Already

Hottie ex-teacher Debra Lafave, who was convicted in one county in Florida of having sex with a 14-year-old student in 2004, had similar charges in another county dropped yesterday when the judge rejected a plea deal and prosecutors decided making the boy testify would be too much of a burden. (Some of the alleged sex happened in a different county, hence the double set of charges.)

Anyway, Lafave won’t be serving any jail time, but is on house arrest for three years, probation for seven and will have to register as a sex offender. Now that the ordeal is finally over, she did what any God-fearing American would do: Hold a press conference.

Lafave says she’s sorry, says she regrets what she did and also — of course! — blames the media for focusing too much attention on the case. The irony that she said this at a press conference she was holding was apparently lost on her. And, well, she’s not going to let that perceived journalistic sin go unpunished:

Lafave criticized the extensive media coverage her case received, accusing reporters of invading the privacy of her former student.

She said she was taking a journalism course online, adding, “God has given me a great outlet to write, and I would hope I could reach people through writing.”

Well, at least she’ll be a writer who’s scandalous for something other than making shit up.

Prosecutors drop sex case against teacher [CNN.com]