Ex-LI Teacher Arrested, Again, After Online Sex Chats With Minors: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY — A former Riverhead teacher was arrested again Monday after reportedly engaging in sexual online chat conversations with minors — and posing as a teen to solicit explicit images from underaged children, New York State police said.

According to police, Ryan J. McCaffery was using the Snapchat username C_chambers77.

On Monday, McCaffery, 37, of Ridge, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, a D felony; three counts of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance who is under 17 years old, a C felony; three counts of acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, a misdemeanor; promoting a sexual performance by a child under 17, a D felony; and possession of a sexual performance by a child, an E felony, police said.

The arrest follows an incident in February, when McCaffrey teacher turned himself in, in New Jersey, after reportedly having "inappropriate conversations and interactions" with children online, officials said.

On January 17, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations in Riverside, with the assistance of the Troop L Computer Crime Unit and New York State troopers, successfully conducted and executed a search warrant at McCaffery’s residence in Ridge, police said.

That search occurred after receiving an Internet Crime Against Children, ir ICAC, cyber tip, police said.

Upon completion of the search warrant, several electronic devices were seized from the residence, police said.

McCaffery was interviewed by the NYSP BCI and the Bergen County New Jersey Prosecutors Office, police said.

The joint interview led to McCaffery being arrested and charged on February 14, 2025, with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree child endangerment, and two counts of fourth-degree lewdness in Bergen County, police said.

The charges were a result of McCaffery’s sexual online chat conversations that occurred in 2022 with him and juvenile victims under the age of 13, police said.

After an extensive and thorough investigation by the NYSP CCU and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, there were multiple search warrants and subpoenas issued and executed, police said. It was determined that a stranger was requesting nude photos and engaging in sexual acts while video chatting with victims on Snapchat, police said.

Further investigation revealed that McCaffery was the adult communicating with the victims under the age of 14 during December 2024, police said.

As a result of the comprehensive investigation, which took place over several months, McCaffery surrendered himself to the New York State Police in Riverside, where he was arrested and charged, police said.

McCaffery was transported to Suffolk County First District Court for arraignment, police said.

In a message to the Riverhead Central School District community on Monday, Cheryl Pedisich, interim superintendent of schools, addressed McCaffery's arrest, on "similar charges to those New Jersey law enforcement brought against him in February."

She added: "The district has spoken with New York law enforcement, and we have again been informed that there is no current evidence that any of the alleged New York charges are related to Mr. McCaffery's prior work as a teacher in the Riverhead Central School District or any interactions Mr. McCaffery may have had with any students in his classes or any other child enrolled in the Riverhead Central School District. When, and if, any additional information becomes available that can be released to the public, we will update the community, she said.

In February, McCaffery turned himself in, officials said.

In a letter to Riverhead families sent out at the time, Pedisich said "Ryan McCaffrey, a former Riverhead High School teacher, turned himself in to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office on Friday, February 14, 2025, on charges stemming" from the alleged interactions with kids.

"Mr. McCaffrey had resigned from his position with the district earlier this month, citing personal reasons," Pedisich said in February. "It is the district’s understanding, based on conversations with law enforcement, that none of these charges are related to Mr. McCaffrey’s prior work as a teacher in the Riverhead School District or any interactions Mr. McCaffrey may have had with any student in his classes or any other child enrolled in the Riverhead School District."

Bergen County Police could not immediately provide additional information.

"We understand news of this sort is upsetting to parents, guardians, our Riverhead School District faculty and staff, and the greater Riverhead community," Pedisich said in February. "The safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority. We find deplorable the actions and behavior Mr. McCaffrey is accused of, and will be cooperating with law enforcement in any ongoing investigations."

The investigation led by the New York State Police and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is continuing. Any parent or guardian who believes that their child received inappropriate communications from the Snapchat username “C_chambers77” should contact the New York State Police at 631-756-3300.