Debra LaFave: I crossed the line that never should have been crossed.
She's a top contender for the title of "America's Most Notorious Schoolteacher."
In 2004, Debra Beasley-LaFave was arrested at the home of a middle school student, accused of
having sex with him at her apartment, in her car and in her classroom.
She was 23. He was 14.
Debra LaFave: He wanted it and, yeah, I gave it to him.
Matt Lauer: Weren't you scared to death he would tell someone?
Debra LaFave: Obviously, not, 'cause I did it again.
Matt Lauer: And again.
Debra LaFave: And again.
In her first-ever television interview, Debra LaFave says - behind the lurid details of the case, there was a deeply troubled young woman.
Matt Lauer: When you were 13-years-old, 8th grade, you were raped by someone you knew?
Debra LaFave: Uh, huh.
Debra says an early, abusive relationship with an older boy forever shaped her view of sex.
Debra LaFave: I kind of developed this idea, that it was my role...in order to make a man-guy-boy happy, I had to do my part, which was pleasing him in that way.
Debra also maintains that bipolar disorder affected what she did.
Debra LaFave: Symptoms of bipolar definitely contributed to my mind-frame.
Still, Debra says she does not blame anyone else for what happened.
Debra LaFave: I'm not trying to give excuses. All I'm being is truthful. I'm going to be the first person to say, 'Yes, it's my fault,' And I'm dealing with that.
See more of Matt Lauer's exclusive interview with Debra LaFave on a special Dateline Wednesday at 8:00, on 14 WFIE.
