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COLONIE---Teacher Sex Exclusive, the headlines screamed on the promo for Inside Edition's show on Tuesday.
"It was yet another case of a teacher having sex with a student, only this time the Catholic school teacher was accused of having had sex with a number of students. Now one of those boys and his mother are speaking exclusively to Inside Edition about a case that made headlines around the world", the schedule for the nationally syndicated tabloid magazine TV show said.
The show was about the case of Sandra "Beth" Geisel, 42, of Latham, the former teacher at Christian Brothers Academy who was indicted and later pleaded guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old male student in May.
Police initially found Geisel in a parked car with a 17-year-old male student in June. No criminal charges were filed because 17 is the legal age for consensual sex in New York State. She was fired from her CBA teaching position the day after the car incident.
While police were investigating that incident, the 16-year-old told police he had sexual relations with her and another 17-year-old also came forward.
One of the 17-year-olds, identified only as Michael on the TV show, said he'd had sex with Geisel 10 or 11 times. He said Geisel was "a friend to have sex with".
When Geisel was sentenced Nov. 21 in Albany County Court, Judge Stephen Herrick said that the 16-year-old in the case was a victim only in the statutory sense.
"He certainly was not victimized by you in any other sense of the word", the judge told Geisel.
"At the time this occurred, you were needy, drinking heavily and had a low self esteem. While you looked at this as affection, you were being used, abused and sexually abused. You became their playmate. " Herrick said that Geisel failed to realize that she was being used for sex and was being laughed at by the boys behind her back.
Geisel was sentenced to six months in jail with credit for time served after pleading guilty to a single count of third degree rape and an unrelated charge of driving while intoxicated. She will be on probation for 10 years after she completes her sentence, will have to undergo alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation and register as a sex offender.
Michael's mother, identified as Tina Marie, said she agreed to appear on "Inside Edition" because she was "really angry, then I was hurt" after hearing the comments made by the judge.
There is no indication how much Tina Marie or her son were paid to appear on Inside Edition.
Michael said that love would be too strong a word for the relationship that he had with Geisel. "She was a real good friend for me, a friend to have sex with", he said. 11-30-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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