Former Binghamton Dance Teacher Convicted in Child Sex Abuse Case

A Southern Tier dance teacher will be sentenced in March after being found guilty, for a second time, of sexually abusing a little girl.

Broome County Judge Joseph Cawley handed down the verdict against 37 year old Samantha Werkheiser February 9 in a non-jury trial after her first guilty verdict had been overturned on appeal.

Werkheiser was accused of brutally abusing a student at a home in Binghamton when the child was 6 years old between 2003 and the end of 2007.  The victim is now 18 and is related to Werkheiser.

The former Binghamton dance studio owner faces up to 25 years in prison for sexual conduct against a child.

Her partner, Julie Werkheiser, who ran a separate dance studio in Waverly, is serving 11 years to life in prison for also abusing students.