Former Upstate New York Music Teacher Sentenced for Sexual Abuse at Reform School

Paul Geer’s Trial Reopens Wounds for Survivors of the Family Foundation School

The criminal trial of Paul Geer, a former music instructor at the now-defunct Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York, has brought decades of pain and trauma back to the surface for his former students. After years of silence and legal battles, the 58-year-old educator was sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison on September 4, 2025, following his conviction for transporting minors across state lines for sexual activity.

The Family Foundation School, which closed in 2014, had long marketed itself as a “therapeutic boarding school” for troubled teens. In reality, it became the setting for systemic abuse, coercion, and exploitation that would later be revealed through lawsuits and survivor testimony.

Abuse Hidden Under the Guise of Reform

Founded in the 1980s by Tony and Betty Argiros, the school operated under the philosophy of the 12-step recovery model used in addiction treatment programs. Parents from across the country sent their children there in the hopes of helping them overcome behavioral issues. What many did not know was that the isolated campus, surrounded by the woods of Delaware County, created a perfect environment for unchecked abuse.

Students testified that upon arrival, they were strip-searched, forced to apply lice shampoo under supervision, and assigned to “families” led by staff members who assumed parental roles. Geer, who taught at the school from the early 1990s until its closure, was the “father” of one such group, Family Six.

Multiple survivors recalled Geer using his authority to humiliate, manipulate, and control students. He openly described himself as a “sex addict” and forced teens to publicly confess their “impure thoughts” and supposed sexual behaviors. Those who resisted faced punishments such as running in place for hours, hauling buckets of rocks up steep hills, or isolation in a windowless room for days at a time.

Survivor Testimony Brings Justice

During the February 2025 trial in Albany federal court, jurors heard harrowing accounts from former students who described Geer’s physical and sexual abuse.

One survivor, Mike Milia, testified that when he was 15, Geer took him on a supposed fishing trip to Maine — a trip that turned into days of sexual assault. “We never put a fishing rod in the water,” Milia said. “He bought beer, pornographic magazines, and abused me the whole time.”

Another survivor, referred to in court as “Victim 3,” recounted how Geer forced him to join the school choir and later assaulted him during a trip to Toronto. Jurors were shown videos of the choir performing, with a younger Geer conducting, a stark contrast to the trauma survivors described on the stand.

Witnesses also included Elizabeth Boysick, 41, one of the first to publicly come forward with her real name. She testified about being locked in an isolation room for five days as punishment and enduring constant fear of Geer’s violent temper. Although jurors were unable to reach a verdict on her specific counts, Boysick viewed the overall outcome as a victory for all survivors.

“I’m going to totally own those guilty verdicts,” she said. “It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for me.”

Patterns of Institutional Failure

The Family Foundation School faced numerous lawsuits before and after its closure, with former students alleging decades of physical and sexual abuse by staff. Survivors described the school as a “cult-like” institution where strict discipline crossed into cruelty and students were systematically silenced.

Despite years of rumors, administrators denied wrongdoing. A former director, Emmanuel “Mike” Argiros, son of the founders, testified that he had never heard of complaints against Geer and defended the school’s reputation. However, survivor accounts and legal filings have since exposed systemic negligence and a culture of fear that allowed abuse to continue for decades without accountability.

A Moment of Reckoning for Survivors

For many survivors, Geer’s sentencing marks not just justice but validation of years spent fighting to be believed. The trial also reunited former students who had suffered in silence, providing a sense of community and understanding.

Lauren LaCroix, a former student who flew from San Diego to attend the trial, said that meeting others who shared her experience brought long-awaited closure. “There’s no explaining,” she said. “They get it right away.”

Legal Support for Survivors in New York

Cases like the Family Foundation School underscore the importance of legal advocacy for survivors of institutional abuse. When schools, religious organizations, or treatment centers fail to protect children, civil action can expose negligence, compel reform, and secure compensation for victims.

Thomas Giuffra, Esq. – The Abuse Lawyer NY, represents survivors of sexual abuse across New York, including cases involving private schools, reform programs, and other institutions that have betrayed public trust. His trauma-informed legal approach ensures survivors receive compassionate representation while holding abusers and negligent organizations accountable.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse in an educational or institutional setting, confidential help is available. Contacting an experienced attorney can be the first step toward justice and recovery.

Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/nyregion/music-teacher-sex-abuse-trial-ny.html