NY Schools Chancellor's Deputy Arrested For Arranging Sex With Underage Boy

KEY POINTS

Top NYC education offical David Hay arrested for trying to have sex with minor
He was immediately fired after the arrest
Hay served as a special adviser to the NYC DOE Chancellor for four years

A top Department of Education official in New York City was arrested in Wisconsin for trying to set up sex with an underage boy. DoE deputy chief of staff David Hay, second in command to Chancellor Richard Carranza, has been accused of using a computer “to facilitate a child sex crime,” according to officers.

The New York Post reported that Hay was arrested at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee on Sunday for allegedly trying to arrange sex with an underage male online. Officials said that Hay was fired.

Though a bail hearing was set for Monday, no further information is available regarding his release or amount. A staffer from the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office said Hay would likely have to wait until Thursday to see a judge because of the nature of his case and the New Year Holiday.

The Wisconsin law that Hay was accused of breaking targets any offender who “uses a computerized communication system to communicate with an individual who the actor believes or has reason to believe has not attained the age of 16 years with intent to have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the individual.”

Hay is a native of Wisconsin, and served as a school principal in the state before being hired as a special assistant in NYC by former Chancellor Carmen Farina. He now lives in Brooklyn where, according to his LinkedIn profile, he “leads a comprehensive organizational effectiveness and change management strategy for the New York City Department of Education.”

Hay, who received his doctorate in education from Harvard in 2017, was terminated immediately following the arrest, according to a DOE spokesperson: “These allegations are incredibly disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,” said Miranda Barbot.

“We took immediate action removing Mr. Hay from payroll and are terminating him. We referred this to the Special Commissioner of Investigation and we will fully comply with any investigation.”

The Department reiterated that Hay did not work directly with children during his four-year tenure. The investigation is ongoing.