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