Ex-Riverhead Teacher Poses As Teen Boy To Solicit Nude Images From Underage Girls: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — A former Riverhead teacher posed as a teenager to solicit nude images from underage girls on Snapchat — and shared child sexual abuse material on Kik, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Ryan McCaffery, 37 of Ridge, was indicted for promoting a sexual performance by a child, and several related charges, for reportedly requesting nude images from underage girls and sending explicit images of himself to them, Tierney said.

According to the investigation, on November 4, 2024, the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and ExploitedChildren that an individual had allegedly shared child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Kik, a messaging application, the DA said.

On January 17, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at McCaffery’s Ridge home that allegedly yielded several electronic devices, Tierney said.

A digital forensic analysis of the devices revealed that McCaffery had reportedly been posing as a teenaged boy and engaging in chats with multiple underage girls on Snapchat, sending images of his exposed genitals and requesting nude images from the minors, the DA said.

Further investigation and additional search warrants yielded evidence that McCaffery had reportedly attempted to view and purchase additional abusive images and had shared at least one such video with another user on Kik, Tierney said.

The investigation further revealed that McCaffery, using the Snapchat name “c_chambers77,” had reportedly "quick added" hundreds of random accounts, in order to communicate with female children, the DA said.

McCaffery had also been investigated by New York’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in January 2023, when they were alerted by Bergen County, New Jersey detectives who had been contacted by the parents of a minor female in October 2022 to report that their daughter had been communicating with a user on Snapchat who had allegedly solicited nude images and videos from the child and sent the child nude photos and videos of himself, Tierney said.

Through the investigation, the New York State Police and Bergen County Detectives determined that the unknown Snapchat user who had been communicating with the minors was reportedly McCaffery, and that McCaffery was employed as a Riverhead High School social studies teacher and junior varsity boys soccer coach until he resigned on February 5, 2025, the DA said.

He was arrested and charged with sexual assault, child endangerment, and lewdness on February 14, 2025, in Bergen County, New Jersey, the DA said. The New Jersey case remains pending, Tierney said.

McCaffery was arrested by the New York State Police for his reported Suffolk County crimes on May 12, following an extensive investigation, the DA said.

On June 4, McCaffery was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for the following charges, the DA said:

- One count of promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony, a Class D felony;
- One count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a Class D felony;
- Three counts of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony, a Class D felony;
- Three counts of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, a Class D felony;
- Three counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors as a sexually motivated felony, a Class D felony;
- Three counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, a Class D felony;
- One count of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a Class E felony; and
- Three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

In a message to the Riverhead Central School District community in May, 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."

Justice Wilutis ordered McCaffery held on $100,000 cash bail, $400,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. McCaffery is due back in court on July 17, and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

He is being represented by Daniel Kratka.

If you believe that your child messaged or communicated with McCaffery via his Snapchat account "c_chambers77" or otherwise, please contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-
852-2555.

"We aggressively prosecute those who would exploit their positions of trust to harm children," Tierney said. "The allegations in this indictment are truly disturbing. Our office remains committed to protecting our children and holding alleged predators accountable for their actions."