Former Riverhead Teacher Indicted On child Sex Abuse Charges
Ryan Mccaffery, 37, Of Ridge, New York, A Former Teacher And Coach At Riverhead High School, Was Indicted In Suffolk County Court On wednesday, June 4, On Charges Related To Promoting A Sexual Performance By A Child.
The New York State Police Conducted The Investigation. It revealed That Mccaffery Allegedly Posed As A Teenage Boy On Snapchat To Communicate With Underage Girls, According To The Suffolk County District AttorneyS Office.
Details Of The Alleged Offenses
Prosecutors Claim Mccaffery sent Images Of His Exposed Genitals And Requested Nude Images From The Minors. He Also Allegedly Attempted To View And Purchase Additional Abusive Images.
investigators Further Allege That Mccaffery Shared Child Sex Abuse Material On The Messaging App, Kik. The Investigation Showed That Mccaffery, Using The Snapchat Name “C_chambers77,” Had “Speedy Added” Hundreds Of Random Accounts To Communicate With Underage Girls, According To Prosecutors.
Did You Know? Online Grooming Is A Serious Issue, With Over 750,000 Cases Reported Annually Worldwide. Parents Can Use Monitoring Apps And Educate Their children About Online Safety To Prevent Such Incidents.
Evidence And Arrest
In January, Members Of The New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Executed A Search Warrant At Mccaffery’s Residence After Receiving A Tip From The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children.
They Recovered Several Electronic Devices Containing Incriminating Evidence. Mccaffery Was Already Facing Numerous Charges Out Of Bergen County,New Jersey,For Allegedly Engaging In Sexual Conversations With Minors Under The Age Of 13 In 2023.
resignation and Legal proceedings
At The Time Of The Alleged New Jersey Offenses, Mccaffery Was Still Employed by Riverhead High School As A Social Studies Teacher And Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Coach.
He Resigned In February of this Year. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney Stated, “We Aggressively Prosecute Those Who Would Exploit Their Positions Of Trust To Harm Children.” He Added, “The Allegations In This Indictment Are Truly Disturbing. our Office Remains Committed To Protecting Our Children And Holding Alleged predators Accountable For Their Actions.”
current Charges And Bail
Mccaffery Faces Over A Dozen Charges In Suffolk County, Including Promoting A Sexual Performance By A Child, Disseminating Indecent Material To Minors, And Endangering The Welfare Of A Child.
He Was Jailed On A $400,000 Bond.Prosecutors Urged Parents Or Guardians Who Believe Their Child May Have Received Inappropriate Communications From the Snapchat Username “C_chambers77” Or Others To Contact 631-852-2555.
Summary of Charges
| Charge | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child | Creating or distributing content that depicts child sexual abuse. | Suffolk County, NY |
| Disseminating indecent Material to minors | Sharing inappropriate content with individuals under 18. | Suffolk County, NY |
| Endangering the Welfare of a Child | Actions that could harm a child’s physical or emotional well-being. | Suffolk County, NY |
| Engaging in Sexual Conversations with Minors | Communicating inappropriately with individuals under 13. | Bergen County, NJ |
Understanding Online Child Exploitation
Online Child Exploitation is A Grave Offense That Impacts Countless Lives Globally. Perpetrators Often Use Social Media And Messaging Apps To Target Vulnerable Minors, Making Awareness And prevention crucial.
Pro Tip: Regularly Review Your Child’s Online Activity And Discuss Safe Internet Practices. install Parental control Software and keep Communication Open To Detect And Prevent Potential Harm.
The Role Of Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Agencies, Such As The New york State police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force And The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children, Play A Vital Role in Investigating And Prosecuting These Crimes.
Their Collaborative Efforts Are Essential To Bringing Offenders To Justice And Protecting Children From Harm. Remember, if you or someone you know needs help, resources are available.Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
Take Action
What Steps Do You Think Social Media Platforms should Take to Prevent Similar Incidents? How Can Communities Better Support Victims of Online Child Exploitation?