December Update: Geisel finished serving her sentence. Case closed.

Next update will most likely be in 2007 when Lifetime does a beth geisel tv-movie.

All the best.

Monthly Update: Grand Jury / Indictment / Not Guilty Plea

NOTE: those who claim that this blog is a rudimentary "cut and paste job" are preaching to the choir. The purpose of the blog is to gather news on the case; no more, no less. I was given the opportunity to appear on national tv by more then one network; the fact that I declined all offers should show that I’m not the fame whore some of you make me out to be.

9/3/2005 Geisel testifies before Grand Jury

ALBANY - Former Christian Brothers Academy teacher Sandra "Beth" Geisel was back in court Friday for a Grand Jury hearing.

The Grand Jury is looking into charges that she raped one of her underage students.The Grand Jury did not make a determination in the case and is expected to reconvene to possibly hand up an indictment against Geisel next Friday.

But behind closed doors, they spent about six hours hearing from Geisel and several other witnesses.

According to Geisel's attorney Donald Kinsella, she testified without immunity for nearly two hours.

Some teenage boys were also seen in the courtroom, including the 17-year-old boys she allegedly had sex with and the 16-year-old victim she's charged with raping.

Geisel, 42, was out on bail until two weeks ago when she got arrested for allegedly driving drunk and was sent back behind bars.

Geisel's alleged troubles began in June when she was found by Cohoes Police in the backseat of her car with a 17-year-old male CBA student.

She was fired by CBA after accounts of the Cohoes incident filtered back to them, but not charged with any crime because the unidentified boy was at the legal age of consent for sex.About a month later, the family of a 16-year-old student went to Colonie Police with allegations that Geisel had sex with their unidentified son on three occasions.

For those alleged incidents, Geisel, who pleaded not guilty, faces between one and four years behind bars.

Geisel, a mother of four children, is estranged from her husband and has admitted to having an alcohol problem.

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15149706&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6




9/10/2005 - Ex-CBA teacher indicted for rape, criminal sex

ALBANY - Former Christian Brother Academy teacher Sandra "Beth" Geisel was indicted, Friday, for allegedly raping a 16-year-old male student earlier this year.

An Albany County Court Grand Jury indicted Geisel on three felony counts of rape and one count of performing a criminal sex act for allegedly having three sexual encounters with a 16-year-old boy in May.

According to the Albany County district attorney's office, Geisel could face up to 16 years behind bars if convicted on all the charges.

The 42-year-old blonde has been caught in the national spotlight since her arrest in early August on felony charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

She has been behind bars ever since her bail was revoked after she was arrested on DWI charges last month.

Much debate swirled around the matter on news broadcasts across the country, but to Albany County District Attorney David Soares, the case is more about breaking the law than all the salacious chatter on the airwaves.

"It's no secret that the national media has been interested in this case because the defendant is an attractive, wealthy woman who happens to be a teacher at a private Catholic military school," said Soares. "But these very facts, the facts that make this a national sensation, are facts that my office must ignore, has ignored and will continue to ignore."

"What we have here is an allegation that an adult over the age of 21 engaged in sex with someone under the age of 17," added Soares, who said he was satisfied with the grand jury's decision to follow the statute.

Geisel's alleged troubles began in June when she was allegedly found in the back seat of her car with a 17-year-old CBA student.

She was fired by CBA after accounts of the Cohoes incident spread throughout the prestigious school, but not charged with any crime because the unidentified teen was at the legal age of consent.

About a month later CBA officials sent letters to parents about the matter and that propelled the family of a16-year-old to go to Colonie Police with allegations that Geisel had sex with their son on three occasions.

According to Colonie Police the alleged sex acts occurred at the CBA's football field press box and a Ravena home.

Geisel, the mother of four children, has been estranged from her husband, who holds a high-ranking position at KeyBank.

Geisel was hired by CBA about a year ago as an English teacher and ran the school's writing lab.Geisel has pleaded not-guilty to all the charges, and her attorney Don Kinsella has stated numerous times that she was taken advantage of by the students.

All told, there are allegations that Geisel had sexual relations with at least three CBA students, but only one was under 17.

She is expected to be arraigned before Albany County Judge Stephen Herrick on the most recent charges Tuesday.

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15189096&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6




09/14/2005 Former teacher pleads not guilty

ALBANY - Former Christian Brothers Academy teacher Sandra "Beth" Geisel pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of raping a 16-year-old student of the prestigious private school.
The 42-year-old former teacher was arraigned before Albany County Judge Thomas Breslin on three counts of rape and one count of criminal sex act.

Geisel faces up to 16 years behind bars if convicted on all charges, which stem from three separate incidents in which she is accused of having sex with a minor.

While in court, the Albany County District Attorney's office presented piles of papers for review, which include 16 photographs, statements from five individuals, phone records, incident and police reports, as well as, Geisels' voluntary disclosure statement to the Grand Jury last month.
Geisel's troubles began in early August when she was thrust into the national spotlight after being arrested on felony rape charges and endangering the welfare of a child, a charge her attorney, Don Kinsella noted Tuesday was dropped.

She also has been behind bars ever since her bail was revoked after getting arrested on DWI charges last month. Her attorney doesn't expect to apply for bail in the near future. Kinsella told reporters outside court that the judge asked him to refrain from talking about the case publicly too much.

Troubles began for Geisel, formerly of Long Shadow Drive in Latham, in June when she was found in the back seat of her car with a 17-year-old CBA student.

She was immediately fired by CBA after accounts of the Cohoes incident spread throughout the prestigious school, but no charges were filed against her because the boy was at the legal age of consent.

About a month later, the parents of a 16-year-old boy went to Colonie Police with allegations that Geisel allegedly had sex with on three occasions.

According to Colonie Police the alleged sex acts occurred at CBA football field press box at night and at a Ravena home.
http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15206833&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

Geisel arrested for DWI

Former CBA teacher facing more charges

The former Christian Brothers Academy teacher at the center of a sex scandal is facing more trouble with the law. Sandra “Beth” Geisel, 42, was arrested Friday for driving while intoxicated.

Geisel's day in the spotlight began near the intersection of Catherine Street and Morton Avenue in Albany’s South End, where a sheriff’s deputy reports she was driving erratically and then cut him off.

She failed field sobriety tests. A breathalyzer test registered her blood alcohol content as 0.13. The legal limit from driving in New York is 0.08.

Geisel was officially charged with DWI in Albany Police Court. This is her second DWI arrest in eight months.

Defense attorney Donald Kinsella entered a not-guilty plea and bail was set at $7,500.

Less than an hour later an Albany County judge ruled Friday’s DWI charge was a violation of the probation requirements established based on Geisel's Aug. 1 felony rape and child endangerment charges. She was ordered to the Albany County Correctional Facility where she'll remain without bail.

“She's someone with a problem and it needs to be dealt with,” Kinsella said.

Geisel stands accused of having sex with an underage student on more than one occasion.

She was fired from CBA earlier after Cohoes police found her in a car having sex with a 17-year-old student. There are no charges in the case of the 17-year-old because he was over the age of consent.

The district attorney’s office is continuing its investigation into the sex allegations.

Geisel had a 37-year-old passenger in her car with her Friday morning. He was let go.

http://www.wnyt.com/geisel-dwi.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183

If you are new to this blog, this is most likely not the entry you are looking for. The post containing the identities of the boys and the blackmail allegations can be found by clicking here

Blog Covered On "The Early Show"...I respond to critics

If you are new to this blog, this is most likely not the entry you are looking for. The post containing the identities of the boys and the blackmail allegations can be found by clicking here

Yesterday on CBS’s The Early Show, Albany District Attorney David Soares told co-anchor Julie Chen that “the person who is responsible for this Blog is not a sophisticated reporter, and it is a shame and I think an embarrassment."

1. When did I ever claim to be a sophisticated journalist? The dictionary defines journalist as “One who keeps a journal or diary.” Sounds about right to me.

2. My Blog is an embarrassment? Our society and its reaction to this case is an embarrassment. Our insatiable infatuation with perversion and immorality is the real shame. We feed off of smut like this. It lets us all feel morally superior.

3. How can one elatedly search through the Internet for my Blog in order to get “the scoop” and then in the same breath denounce my “moral irresponsibility”? The majority of you came here well aware beforehand of the “irresponsible” information that this Blog holds. You knew what you were getting into.

4. These kids were monsters. I feel 100% guilt free in releasing their names. They manipulated a broken woman into having sex with them. Not only was she without a husband, she was alcohol dependent and suffering from severe depression. The way they manipulated her makes me wonder if they should be diagnosed as sociopaths.

5. As for DA David Soares, you ride in on a high horse and make claims of “morality,” “decency” and “responsibility.” How do those terms relate to your self-importance and self-righteousness? Knowing you, I'm sure you're just elated that you've gotten so much face time over this case. It plays nicely into your hidden agenda, doesn't it?

BLACKMAIL? EXCLUSIVE STORY: The Phantom Journalist REVEALS the WHO and the WHY

Now that I have gathered all of the articles pertinent to the Geisel sex scandal on this page, it is time for me to make the big reveal. I suggest that those unfamiliar with the scandal browse my earlier entries to gain a grasp for the back story. I believe the What, When, and How of this case have been pretty well documented. What I hope to reveal is the Who and the Why.

The Who:

Bryant Luizzi

Michael Syrell

Jeremy Pullen

The Why: (Michael Syrell)
Michael Syrell, 17, was the first boy to have sex with Geisel; the one who had sex with her in her house after the CBA Prom. I wouldn’t even dare to venture a guess as to what the true “why” was for this initial escapade. It is something that only she and her psychologist truly know.

The Why:(Jeremy Pullen & Bryant Luizzi)
An inside source tells me that Jeremy Pullen and Bryant Luizzi were able to have sex with Geisel through the use of blackmail. What dirt did they have on her? They knew that Syrell and Geisel had sex. On top of that, they could use the fact that Geisel had gotten drunk with them in the past, even providing them the alcohol. Geisel, aware of the fact that they could out her to the school, gave in to their demands for sex.



Update: Originally I stated that Brendan Lyons of the Times Union was the source for my info. This statement was untrue. I used unprofessional tactics to obtain this information and I apologize to Mr. Lyons. He should not be held accountable in any way.


© ThePhantomJournalist 2005

TEACH: I'M SEX VICTIM

By KENNETH LOVETT Post Correspondent

August 4, 2005 -- ALBANY — In a stunning accusation, the lawyer for a Catholic-school teacher who allegedly had sex with students said yesterday it was the teacher who was victimized and "taken advantage of."

"It's possible her contact with the 16-year-old wasn't consensual," lawyer Donald Kinsella told The Post yesterday, noting the teacher's battle with alcoholism.

In his most expansive comments since Sandra "Beth" Geisel surrendered Monday, Kinsella hinted a 16-year-old boy who authorities said slept with her might have forced sex on the brainy beauty or coerced her. "It's possible that the 16-year-old may have some criminal responsibility in connection with this matter," Kinsella told Albany radio station WROW-AM yesterday.

"I'm not saying that there was physical force involved with each of the incidents with the 16-year-old; there are other possibilities concerning coercion that don't amount to force in terms of using a situation as leverage."

He wouldn't comment to The Post on whether she'd been threatened with exposure — but said people will have reason to "determine who the predators are."

He also blamed the boy's father for pursuing the matter with authorities to get even with the Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie for expelling his son.

School officials wrote in a letter obtained by The Post that the father threatened to bring a "s---storm" of trouble for the academy if it did not reinstate the boy, which did not happen. The boy's father called the school charge "total propaganda."

Colonie Police Chief Steven Heider seemed surprised at Kinsella's comments. "We'll let the facts stand as we presented them," he said.

Geisel, 42, has been charged with two counts of statutory rape and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

A spokesman for Albany County District Attorney David Soares confirmed yesterday Geisel could face a third charge for having sex with the 16-year-old a third time. Kinsella did not deny during the WROW interview that the mother of four had sex with the 16-year-old or three 17-year-olds at various times.

In New York the legal age of sexual consent is 17.

"What happened here primarily is her responsibility," Kinsella said, however adding there are factors "where a reasonable person might think that she was taken advantage of."

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/26552.htm

Alcohol Cited in N.Y. Teacher Sex Case

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Catholic-school teacher accused of having sex with students is an alcoholic who may have plied teenage boys with liquor on a school trip, according to authorities.

Sandra "Beth" Geisel (search), who was recently hospitalized for alcohol dependency, was also arrested last December for DWI, according to official documents obtained by The New York Post. At the time, her blood-alcohol level was .18 — more than twice the legal limit, the documents show.

The revelations came as Geisel, 42, finished a one-day stint in jail after posting $20,000 bail Tuesday on charges she raped a 16-year-old boy during two alleged sexual trysts in May — one in a school football field's press box, the other at her home in the Albany suburb of Latham.

The boy was a student at Christian Brothers Academy (search) in Colonie, N.Y., where Geisel was a volunteer teacher, and where her own teenage son is a student.

Albany District Attorney David Soares is exploring additional charges of plying minors with alcohol, both in New York and in Florida, where the school's students traveled in February.

"There's a lot to this story including events that transpired outside the jurisdiction of New York state," Soares told FOX News on Wednesday.

Soares said the county would not treat Geisel differently than a man accused of a sexual crime. "There is one standard of justice that is applied here in Albany County," Soares said.

An unsigned June 27 letter to CBA board members from "concerned parents" accused Geisel of becoming "so irrepressibly intoxicated" during that trip that "she was unable to stand, and four juniors had to carry her back to the hotel."

Several faculty members, the letter said, had alerted administrators, but no action was taken against her.

After the February trip, the letter said, students circulated photos showing Geisel in a "scanty bikini," standing with some of the teens in their bathing suits, while she had her hand on one of their buttocks.

The letter also said administrators had been told of teachers' concerns "about the all-too-frequent closed-door visitations of a handful of boys to Mrs. Geisel's office, which has no windows."

Administrators reportedly responded by installing a window.

While on bail, Geisel must stay away from "all current or former CBA students with whom [she is] alleged to have had sexual contact," not leave the state, observe a 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, and undergo psychiatric and substance-abuse evaluations, court documents say.

Her lawyer, Donald Kinsella (search), said in a bail petition that Geisel recently completed inpatient alcoholism treatment at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, and is continuing outpatient treatment. She also is taking the anti-depressant medication Reremon and Campral, an anti-addiction medication.

During her one-night stay in the Albany jail, Geisel was kept away from other prisoners and was under constant observation to make sure she did not harm herself, said Albany County Sheriff James Campbell.

CBA fired Geisel in mid-June after she was allegedly caught with a 17-year-old student in a parked car.

Since then, she has been accused of having sex with at least two other 17-year-old students and other indiscretions.

The mother of four, who has been separated from her prominent banker husband for two months, has not been charged in those cases because 17 is the state age of consent.

Geisel was not disciplined for the earlier Florida trip. School officials also failed to take action in response to her Dec. 18 arrest for DWI.

She pleaded guilty two days later to a reduced charge of driving while impaired by alcohol. She was fined $300, and her license was suspended for 90 days.

John Aretakis, a lawyer representing one 17-year- old who allegedly had sex with Geisel, said the letter from parents and the DWI "shows that the school should have taken action much sooner" against the teacher.

The New York Post contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164594,00.html

Former CBA teacher released on bail

She spent Monday night in jail, but Sandra "Beth" Geisel is now out on bail. The 42-year-old is facing rape charges for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old Christian Brothers Academy student.

Her freedom will cost her more than the $20,000 bail. She is not allowed to contact the victim or any other current or former CBA student she is alleged to have had sexual contact with. She must undergo a psychiatric evaluation. She can't leave New York and has a curfew

Albany County DA David Soares said, "We want to ensure that we are not releasing an individual that is charged with the type of offenses she has been charged with out there in the community without some kind of supervision."

Geisel has had other run-ins with the law. She was arrested for DWI in December. And in June, police said they caught her having sex with a 17-year-old student in Cohoes. No charges were filed because of the boy's age, but Geisel was fired from CBA.

Now, a 16-year-old has come forward saying he also had sex with Geisel at her home and on school grounds. The teen told police, "She started rubbing and kissing me. She told me she knew it was wrong, but she had been thinking of me for a while. We took our clothes off and had sex."

A police report details comments from two other teens. One claims to have overheard a phone conversation between the teen and Geisel where the teacher agreed to meet the him at the school saying, "At CBA? Where are we going to do it there?" Another deposition from the other teen refers to a different phone conversation in which Geisel "was talking to [him] about what he needed to do better when he's with a girl. She was also comparing [him] to her husband."

Soares said this case makes him angry.

He said, "Children, whether they are male or female, can be victims of predators in our community. It shouldn't make a difference if the victims are young boys. They still have a life to live."

Soares also said the investigation is far from over and that he has more interviews to do before presenting the case to the grand jury.

http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=143037&SecID=33

CBA teacher surrenders to face rape charge

Geisel accused of sex with underage student

COLONIE, Aug. 1
By JOHN ALLEN

A former English teacher at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany has been sent to jail after being accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student.

More than an hour after she was schedule to appear 42-year-old Sandra Beth Geisel walked into Colonie police headquarters to face the charges against her.

Police say that on two occasions last May Geisel had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old former student -- on May 15 at her former residence in Latham and then again on May 28 inside the press box at the Christian Brothers Academy athletic field.

Geisel's attorney, Donald Kinsella, entered a not guilty plea for his client on two felony charges of rape in the third degree and two charges of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Town Judge Richard DiStefano remanded her to Albany County Jail without bail.

“I will be making a bail application at some point in the near future. There are only to E felonies, which only have a maximum term of imprisonment of one and a third to four,” Kinsella said.

Geisel was fired from her job at CBA after Cohoes police said they found her having sex in a parked car with another one of her students. No charges were filed in that case because the student was 17 years old at the time, which is the age of consent in New York.

It was after that incident became public that Geisel was fired and the 16-year-old victim came forward to police.

Many parents have had harsh words for the CBA administration for keeping the matter under wraps for so long.

Attorney John Aretakis represents some of those parents.

“I'm helping several families at CBA. This information and other e-mails that we’ve seen have come across my desk,” Aretakis said.

One e-mail from concerned parents to CBA officials alleges on a school sponsored trip to Florida Geisel not only provided alcohol to students, but she herself became so intoxicated that she had to be carried to her hotel room.

Colonie Police Chief Steve Heider says the case of a female teacher abusing one of her male students is still unusual.

“Unfortunately in our society our society probably precludes a lot of young men from reporting because it’s been thought as a conquest and not a victimization,” Heider said.

Neither CBA officials nor their attorney would comment on Monday's developments.

NewsChannel 13 has learned Geisel has seen mental health staff at the Albany County Jail and is under constant observation. She has not been placed in the general population. She will be seeing a jail psychiatrist for evaluation Tuesday.

http://www.wnyt.com/x4522.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183

CATHOLIC SCHOOL SCANDAL: SEX TEACH

BANKER'S WIFE 'BEDDED' 4 KIDS; TEACHER SEX SCANDAL AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL

August 1, 2005 — A sex scandal has exploded at a prestigious upstate Catholic school, where randy teacher Sandra “Beth” Geisel bedded four students — including an underage boy — while administrators tried to keep the seamy details under wraps, authorities say.

Geisel, 42, a stunning blond married to a powerful Albany banker, was booted from the Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie in June — immediately after a backseat sex romp with a 17-year-old student became public.

Geisel, who was on the payroll first as an English teacher and then as a volunteer in the school’s writing lab, now faces criminal charges involving a 16-year-old boy. She’s expected to surrender today on felony rape charges, according to a lawyer for the family of another student.

John Aretakis, who has represented alleged victims of clerical sexual abuse and is now the lawyer for a 17-year-old CBA student — allegedly one of four students who had sex with the vivacious mother of four — says her “bizarre and irresponsible behavior” was ignored for months by the school.

Geisel, an immensely popular English teacher before she was axed, got canned after police in Cohoes — a town adjacent to Colonie — responded to a resident’s call June 11 about a suspicious parked car. A cop found a sex-rumpled Geisel and a 17-year-old student inside. No charges arose from the case because the boy was at the age of consent for sexual activity. Geisel reportedly confessed to school officials and was immediately fired.

About a week after the tryst, CBA sent a letter to parents about the affair, though officials didn’t identify the teacher. Officials said they’d found the conduct inappropriate.

However, after reports of Geisel’s dismissal spread, a 16-year-old student, at the urging of his parents, reported to Colonie police that he’d had two romps of his own with the randy teacher, according to yesterday’s Troy Record.

A spokesman for the Colonie police said that he believed Geisel was expected to surrender today but that he had no details. Charges reportedly could include statutory rape involving a minor. Geisel’s lawyer, Donald Kinsella, did not return repeated calls for comment. He told The Troy Record she would voluntarily surrender.

Aretakis alleges the teacher’s out-of-control sexual behavior was known among students and their parents for months — and had to be known by administrators — yet was kept secret.

“I believe it is similar to what’s going on . . . in the Catholic church, that this Catholic school was looking to avoid shame and embarrassment and that they tried to wish these incidents away,” Aretakis said.

“They said, ‘Let’s keep this in the family. Use restraint. We believe this incident is isolated.’ I’m angry for them acting irresponsibly.”

According to Aretakis, the inappropriate behavior allegedly began in February on a school-sponsored trip to Florida, where Geisel allegedly drank and, clad in a bikini, posed for a picture with her hand on one of the students.

“She’s in a position of trust and power, working in a Catholic school — and it is so reckless and irresponsible,” said Aretakis, adding that four families are now considering filing a civil lawsuit.

On the online RateMyTeachers.com, Geisel won lascivious praise from one — and real admiration from others.

For example, one student went on line in March to pant, “down boy down — get what I’m saying guys.” Another, last November, declared her “much more” than “just a pretty face.” Another, in February, called her an “amazing writer.”

Geisel is reportedly estranged from her husband, Thomas Geisel, 43, who heads commercial banking in the Northeast and New England for KeyBank and is president of KeyBank in the Albany region.

Ex-CBA teacher faces possible rape charge

COLONIE - A fired 42-year-old teacher at Christian Brothers Academy is scheduled to surrender to police Monday on possible charges of felony rape involving a 16-year old student, according to published reports.

Sandra "Beth" Geisel of Latham was fired from the Catholic boys' school shortly after the administration learned that Cohoes police found her in the rear seat of a parked car at 1:40 a.m. June 11. No charges arose from that case because the boy, another CBA student, was 17, the age of consent for sexual activity.

After reports of the Geisel's dismissal spread throughout the CBA community, the 16-year-old student, at the urging of his parents, reported to Colonie Police two sexual encounters with Geisel, a mother of four who is estranged from her husband.
Geisel's attorney, Donald Kinsella, told an area newspaper Friday his client would voluntarily surrender to Colonie Police to answer the charges. Charges could include two counts of statutory rape involving a minor. Kinsella could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

In a letter to CBA parents dated July 8, school officials confirmed the firing without naming the staff member involved and described it as an isolated incident.
Attorney John Aretakis said Saturday more students may be involved, beyond the two initially reported. He said he was retained by the parents of a CBA student whose age he declined to disclose.

Aretakis criticized the CBA administration for not coming forward sooner and with more details regarding the incidents.

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14953723&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

Cops join probe into ex-teacher's actions...

COLONIE - Police are investigating former Christian Brothers Academy teacher Beth Geisel, based on information passed along Wednesday evening by an individual who Police Chief Steven Heider refused to identify Thursday.

CBA said Tuesday a female staffer they refused to identify was terminated in mid-June after allegations she had had sexual contact with at least two male students surfaced. School officials said allegations were confirmed upon review. Public knowledge of the case came when the school sent home a letter with students last Friday.

"I am sure that, by now, many of you have heard rumors and innuendo regarding the conduct of a CBA staff member," read the first line of the July 8 letter, which goes on to state CBA's concern for student safety and imply administrators believed only one student was involved.

On Wednesday, authorities told The Record it was unlikely Geisel would face criminal charges so long as the unidentified victims were aged 17 or older at the time of the alleged contact. Heider refused to identify the source Wednesday evening or describe the source, even by age.

"Our investigation continues. We have opened a file on it. This is going to be a prolonged investigation," as many potential witnesses are on summer vacation and out of town, said Heider. He added that he did not feel a rush to proceed as victims are safe in their homes.

According to Albany attorney and member of CBA's Board of Trustees Brian M. Culnan, the victims' parents have expressed support for CBA's actions but have asked that their sons remain anonymous.

CBA has made a deliberate effort to be proactive and did not want to appear as though they wished to cover up the alleged incidents, he said. While he has not spoken directly with the parents of uninvolved students, Culnan said he's been told parents are thankful CBA is telling them what it can.

"Our main concern is for the boys involved," Culnan said Friday. He said when he spoke with The Record Tuesday, he had been unaware an apparent third victim existed. CBA has made crisis counselors available to help further victims or students who were indirectly impacted by the incident, according to Culnan. No victim has yet approached a counselor, he said.

However, according to attorney John Aretakis, many parents and friends of parents have told him they are angry after hearing rumors for the last six or seven weeks and then being blindsided by the ongoing news blitz.

One of these parents claimed Geisel was the sole chaperone on an overnight field trip to New York City during the most recent school year, Aretakis said.

Geisel was fired on or about June 10 when she reported an incident involving a 17-year-old male student to a school administrator, Culnan said, and a subsequent school investigation yielded evidence she was involved with two boys. Culnan declined to state how long this investigation was active or when it ended.

At about 1:30 a.m. June 10, Cohoes Police Officer Chris Connors was dispatched to the south end of Elaine Court after reports were received about a vehicle that had been parked there for over two hours with its headlights on.

Using his floodlight Connors illuminated the vehicle's interior and saw a male, whose identity was withheld but is described in the report as a victim, rise from the rear of the vehicle and climb over the seat. At that time a second party sat up in the rear of the vehicle, Connors reported.

During an interview the male gave his name but initially claimed to be 18. He later was found to be 17. The second party gave an apparent false name that was withheld by police and claimed to be in her 30s. According to Connors both of those statements were untrue.

Upon further investigation, the male juvenile told Connors the second party was a teacher at CBA, where he was a student.

The names, dates of birth, addresses and telephone numbers of both persons were redacted from copies of Connors' report that were released to the media.

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14864053&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

Charges against teacher uncertain...

"COLONIE, NEW YORK - A female Christian Brothers Academy staff member who was dismissed a month ago after she was accused of inappropriate contact with two male students may face charges, but authorities say they do not yet have reason to believe a criminal investigation is warranted.

The staffer, who has been identified as Beth Geisel, was dismissed immediately based on the school's "zero tolerance" policy, CBA's attorneys said Tuesday. Her dismissal was followed by an inquiry that found her firing was warranted, spokesman Brian C. Culnan said.

Culnan said the boys' families had requested they remain anonymous, and declined to disclose even which academic year they are enrolled in.

According to law enforcement authorities, barring alcohol or force as factors in the case, the boys' age will determine criminality. CBA has declined to describe the nature of the alleged contact, and knew of no previous incidents involving Geisel.
Colonie Police Chief Steven Heider said the matter is under review, but he could not say whether Geisel would be charged.

"At this point what is happening is a cursory investigation to find persons of interest who may possess information that would lead us to either a criminal investigation or no investigation," Heider said.

If an alleged perpetrator had contact with a person aged 16 or younger, felony rape charges could follow, according to Rensselaer County District Attorney Patricia DeAngelis, a vigorous pursuer of sexual abuse cases.

"Under the law, a person cannot consent to any type of sexual contact if they are less than 17 years old. Once you are 17 years old, the law deems you are capable of consenting to sexual contact in New York state," DeAngelis said."

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14856975&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6

The Letter...

Every household with a student at Christian Brothers Academy received the following letter on July 8, 2005.

"July 8, 2005

Dear Parent or Guardian:

I am sure that, by now, many of you have heard rumors and innuendo regarding conduct of a CBA staff member. The Board of Trustees recognizes and values the trust that you have placed in CBA’s administrators, faculty and staff to ensure well-being, care and development of your boys. AS part of this responsibility, I am taking this opportunity to inform you of the facts concerning this incident and the steps taken by CBA in response to it.

Due to the confidentiality of all persons involved (for example, the parents of the boys have asked us to respect their requests for anonymity), I am constrained in the details that I am able to provide to you at this time. However, hat I can tell you is that, in mid-June 2005, we learned that a CBA staff member had inappropriate relations, off school grounds and on separate occasions, with a CBA student. Because CBA has a “zero tolerance” policy for such conduct by its staff, the staff members association with CBA was immediately terminated. In addition, CBA administrators have discussed the situation with the parents of the students involved.

AS you might expect, when we become aware of incidents like this, our procedure is to immediately initiate an investigation. While the investigation launched by the Board of Trustees is ongoing, we have learned that no criminal charges have been brought as a result of the staff member’s conduct. Furthermore, prior to June 2005, no CBA administrators had notice that the staff member had inappropriate relations with any of her students.

We believe that this incident is an isolated one. We also realize that, by sending this letter, more attention may be directed to these events and that more rumors and innuendo may result. We ask that you, the members of the CBA family, exhibit restraint, understanding and compassion for all those involved or impacted by these events. Along these lines, crisis counselors will be made available for anyone adversely impacted by them.

May St. John Baptist de La Salle pray for us. And may Jesus live in our hearts forever.

James H. Puleo, M.D., A.F.S.C., ‘52

Chair, Board of Trustees"