In court Thursday, Lafave's attorney, John Fitzgibbons, told the judge he and his client would review the offer but are not ready to accept or reject it.

Judge Wayne Timmerman scheduled a hearing for July 18. If the two sides have not come to an agreement by then he will set a trial date.

Fitzgibbons would not say Thursday whether the state's offer includes prison time. He did say the deal would include the lewd and lascivious battery charges in Hillsborough County as well as similar charges filed against her in Marion County that allege another act there with the same teen.

If Lafave were convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison on the local charges and another 15 years in Marion County.

``Debbie is facing just incredible amounts of time in prison under Florida sentencing guidelines,'' Fitzgibbons said.

Fitzgibbons also said Thursday that prosecutors have given him a psychological evaluation of Lafave, completed by a state doctor. The 37-page report was given to Fitzgibbons on Wednesday. ``I barely looked at it,'' Fitzgibbons said. ``I need to absorb it.''

Fitzgibbons has prepared an insanity defense for Lafave. He has said defense psychiatrists have shown her to be an emotionally ill woman.

``If we go to court, we'll be ready, there's no doubt about that,'' he said.

Lafave was arrested June 21, 2004.

After the 2003-04 school year ended, Lafave and the 14- year-old spoke often by cell phone, court records show.

Prosecutors allege that Lafave and the teen had sex in her Riverview town house and in the portable classroom where she taught English at Greco Middle School.

The relationship continued in Ocala, where the teen's aunt saw the two and called his mother. The teen admitted to the relationship when questioned by police.

Fitzgibbons said Lafave is dealing with a great deal of stress as the case proceeds.

``This is still very, very difficult for her,'' Fitzgibbons said. ``Particularly now, as we come to a critical part of the case. It's trying on her, but she's in the care of very good psychiatrist and he's been helpful.''

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698.Keyword: Lafave, for background information and past reports from The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8.