Watch CBS News

Sex Scandal Rocks Catholic High

A female teacher at a Catholic high school in Albany, N.Y., allegedly had sex with a male student and,

Judy Sanders of CBS affiliate WRGB-TV in Albany on The Early Show, he's not the only one with whom she's said to have had relations.

Beth Geisel, a 42-year-old Christian Brothers Academy writing instructor, mother of four and wife of a bank president, said nothing as she surrendered to face charges of raping a 16-year-old male student last May.

Police say she had sex with the boy once at her home in the Albany suburb of Colonie, as her children slept downstairs.

According to the boy's deposition, "She came home in a cab. She was drunk. She started to rub my chest, and just suddenly kissed me. I was shocked. She told me she knew it was wrong, but she had been thinking about me for a while. We then took off our clothes and had sex."

Geisel's attorney, Don Kissella, said little: "Obviously, a difficult situation for everyone involved. That's it."The school fired Geisel after she was caught having sex with a 17-year-old CBA student in the back of a car June 10, says Sanders.

Because that student was of legal age to give consent, there were no charges filed. But his attorney, John Aretakis, says Geisel acted inappropriately on a school trip to Florida with students in February, and the CBA should have acted sooner.

"CBA has said to me, and I quote, 'Fine. She drank with kids. She passed out drinking. She provided alcohol. That's in February. How does that give us notice that she would have sex with several children in May?' That was irresponsible," asserted Aretakis.

The CBA adamantly denies any cover-up.

Police point out sex with an under-aged boy is just as serious as with a girl, though its not always treated that way.

"Unfortunately," says Colonie Police Chief Steve Heider, "our society precludes a lot of young men from reporting it, because it is thought of a conquest, not a victimization."

Geisel was sent to the Albany County jail without bail.

Her four children, one son the same age as the victim, are in the custody of their father, who heads Key Bank.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.