Paul Geer, a former teacher at the Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York, has been sentenced to 327 months in federal prison for his crimes against children. This sentencing follows his conviction earlier this year on charges including coercion and transportation of minors for illicit sexual activity.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Geer imposed severe punishments on students, actions that were described as torture. These sanctions included the denial of food, forcing children to eat vomited food, binding them in rugs, and isolating them for long periods of time. Furthermore, these punishments were leveraged to coerce two students into traveling with Geer to Maine and Toronto, where he sexually abused them.
In addition to the prison term, Geer is mandated to undergo 3 years of supervised release after his incarceration and will be listed as a sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III labeled Geer as a "monster" who utilized his position not to teach but to break these young individuals for his "sadistic and predatory end." Sarcone commented, "These children deserved to be protected, to be cared for, and to be helped, but Geer viewed these children only as a means to his sadistic and predatory end."
The court proceedings saw involvement from the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Colonie Police Department, and the New York State Police, resulting in today's outcome. FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated, "The depth of Mr. Geer’s sexual, physical, and psychological abuse is so depraved it’s truly hard to comprehend." He goes on to express that today's sentence not only holds Geer accountable but also serves as a moment of justice for the students, who continue to carry the impact of these traumatic experiences.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica N. Carbone, Adrian S. LaRochelle, and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case. This case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative that combats the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Providing resources at federal, state, and local levels, the initiative aims to identify and target individuals exploiting children and help rescue victims.
