New York- A blog is claiming the former Catholic high school teacher in the center of a student-teacher sex scandal is herself a victim of blackmail.
The ex-Christian Brothers Academy teacher, Sandra “Beth” Geisel, 42 and the mother of four, is charged in the statutory rape of a 16-year-old male in May.
The CBA fired Geisel on June 10 after, it’s been reported, she was caught having sex in a car with another 17-year-old student.
Now, a blog claims two male CBA students used blackmail to coerce her into having sex with them.
Albany County, N.Y., District Attorney David Soares told co-anchor Julie Chen on The Early Show Wednesday that the investigation of the case is “progressing splendidly.”
But Soares adds it’s “very troubling that someone would put information (about the blackmail allegations) of a confidential nature on a Web site.
“Obviously, people who engage in this activity are not professional reporters. Professional reporters understand the ethical obligation of not putting out information that is confidential and information that would otherwise compromise a case. Therefore, the person who is responsible for this blog is not a sophisticated reporter, and it is a shame and I think an embarrassment.”
But Soares says this “doesn’t affect the investigation, to the extent that we have elements of a crime, elements that we have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. …However, think about being the witnesses and victims in this case and having your name placed on a Web site for all of the world to see.
“That is somewhat challenging, to the extent that all victims of rape or victims or witnesses in cases that are sensitive, such as this particular case, have the additional burden of having their names publicized and having other people having access to that information.”
Soares makes no bones about why he thinks the case is getting so much attention: “It plays … very interesting topics, as far as an audience is concerned. I mean, you have an older woman engaging in sexual relationships with younger males. It’s playing on, you know, male fantasies.”
Still, “I don’t have the luxury, nor does my office or those of us in law enforcement to get involved in some of those issues. We have an obligation to protect. And we toe the line when it comes to the law. And the law states that anyone who is 16 years of age or younger cannot consent and people who are 21 years old or older engaging in sexual intercourse or contact with children has to be prosecuted. And therefore, we are doing our job and carrying out our obligations.”
Soares says the investigation is almost wrapped up, and it’s “entirely” up to Geisel’s lawyers to decide whether the case goes to trial, or the two sides enter into a plea bargain.