Ex-teacher found not guilty of sex abuse charges

A former Saunders High School music teacher accused of inappropriately touching and stalking female students was found not guilty of the charges Thursday. Greg Westhoff was found not guilty of seven counts, including endangering the welfare of a child, sexual abuse and stalking. Westhoff was a music teacher and band instructor for more than 35 years in Yonkers. He was accused of making sexually explicit comments to two teenage girls at Saunders High School and even touching one of their breasts.
However, a jury didn?t find the evidence convincing. ?It was just the whole evidence, the way it was laid out, the dates, the different stories by different people. We just felt it wasn't enough evidence to convict,? said juror Joe Bagwell.
The allegations surfaced during the 2005-2006 school year. Westhoff retired from the Yonkers School District in 2006 after the accusations. Westhoff did admit he spoke to the teens about alcohol and wearing bikinis on his boat but says he was only joking.
One of the victims was in court crying and visibly shaken by the outcome. The mother of one of the other teenage girls told News 12 Westchester that justice was not served and said, ?He?s free to do it again.?
While Westhoff was vindicated on the charges, he still faces two civil lawsuits.