Former principal Geyer admits guilt

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On June 20, Steven Geyer, former Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite School administrator, admitted to molesting foreign exchange students he hosted at his home, according to an article in LancasterOnline.com by Brett Hambright.



“Lancaster County President Judge Joseph Madenspacher accepted the guilty plea and will order sentence in about three months,” the June 20 article said.



Geyer, 56, was charged with 11 sexual offenses on Dec. 21. The crimes involved three male students between 2009 and 2011. 


After learning about the accusations, Lancaster Mennonite School placed Geyer on administrative leave on Nov. 4. His employment was terminated on Nov. 17.

“The entering of a guilty plea by Mr. Geyer is another step in a sad and difficult journey,” wrote LMS superintendent Richard Thomas in a June 22 email. “Our top priority continues to be the care and protection of the victims, and we ask for prayer for them and for all others who are impacted by the entering of this guilty plea.

“We appreciate the wise counsel, the support and steadfast prayers that the LMS community has experienced during this journey. We also appreciate the help the victims received through counseling that supported their resilient spirit. We pray that God’s healing and hope will flow through us in this and all situations.”

He said he is grateful for resources such as ‘Circles of Grace,’ the pamphlet by MennoMedia ‘Dealing with Child Abuse’ and the booklet by Mennonite Central Committee ‘Understanding sexual abuse by a church leader or caregiver.’”

Lancaster Mennonite replaced Geyer’s position in March, according to a release from the school.
 
Beginning July 1, Elizabeth Landis, a 1995 alumna of Lancaster Mennonite, will assume the role of assistant principal at the Lancaster Campus, which includes both Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite Middle School and Lancaster Mennonite High School.

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