NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 18, 2026) — A Briarcliff Manor man was arrested Tuesday morning at his parent’s house by New Rochelle Police. He was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated harassment following an arrest by the New Rochelle Police Department, according to records from the New York State Unified Court System.
Samuel McVey, 46, is listed as the defendant in a criminal case filed in New Rochelle City Court. McVey was a Spanish teacher at Isaac E. Young Middle School.
In an interview this afternoon, McVey acknowledged being aware of an email sent to Superintendent Corey W. Reynolds that stated, “Corey boy, I’m going to put a bullet in your head,” but denied sending it, saying it was sent by a third party with access to his email account.
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A misdemeanor information and arrest warrant filed in the City Court of New Rochelle provide additional detail about the charge against Samuel McVey.
According to the complaint, sworn by a New Rochelle police detective, McVey is charged with aggravated harassment in the second degree under New York Penal Law § 240.30(1), a class A misdemeanor.
The document alleges that on or about Feb. 4, 2026, McVey sent multiple emails to his former employer’s secretary in response to a termination notice. In those emails, he allegedly stated he was “coming to the building with guns” and that “we have a bullet for Corey’s head.”
Prosecutors allege the communications were made with intent to harass and were of a type likely to cause reasonable fear of physical harm.
As reflected in the charging document, the legal issue is not whether any weapon was actually possessed or used, but whether the statements themselves qualify as a criminal threat under New York law — specifically, whether a reasonable person would interpret them as a serious expression of intent to cause harm.
The complaint further states that the emails placed the recipient in fear for his safety and the safety of his schools.
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In a communication to the school community signed by Schools Superintendent Corey W. Reynolds and Board of Education President William Iannuzzi, the City School District of New Rochelle said the individual accused of threatening Reynolds continued making threats after being released from police custody and expanded those threats to include members of the Board of Education.
District officials said the individual had been arrested in northern Westchester County in connection with earlier threats against Reynolds, and credited the New Rochelle Police Department with apprehending the suspect.
“Following release from police custody, the individual continues to threaten Superintendent Reynolds and has now escalated to also threatening members of the Board of Education,” the district said.
The district emphasized that there has been no threat to students, teachers, staff, or school buildings.
As a precaution, officials said the New Rochelle Police Department increased its presence at some district buildings, while classes and school activities continued as scheduled.
The district said it is working closely with law enforcement and is limiting public disclosures due to privacy considerations and guidance from police and legal counsel.
Officials also acknowledged concerns among parents, stating that while the alleged threats did not target schools directly, “any situation involving a threat … can feel unsettling,” and reiterated that student safety remains the district’s top priority.
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According to the New York Post, McVey allegedly made threats on Feb. 5 that “specifically targeted” Superintendent Corey W. Reynolds following his termination.
Citing the arrest warrant, the newspaper reported that McVey “knowingly contact[ed] his former employer’s secretary multiple times via email” stating he was “coming to the building with guns” and that “we have a bullet for Corey’s head.”
“The defendant did so by replying to his termination letter that he was sent via email to his personal email,” the warrant states, according to the New York Post. “The defendant did place the victim in fear for his safety and the safety of his schools when he was sent threatening emails by the defendant.”
According to court records, the incident underlying the case is dated Feb. 4, 2026. McVey was arrested on March 17, 2026. The School District previously issued a statement that Superintendent Dr. Corey Reynolds received a threat in an email.
The top charge filed against McVey is one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree – communicate threat,” under New York Penal Law section 240.30(1). The charge is classified as an A misdemeanor.
Court records indicate McVey was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty.
At a court appearance on Feb. 9, 2026, before Judge Jared R. Rice, the case was marked as a first appearance, and an arrest warrant was issued along with a temporary order of protection.
UPDATE: New Rochelle Police Statement
According to a March 18, 2026 press release from the New Rochelle Police Department, detectives concluded an investigation into threats made against the New Rochelle Schools superintendent and obtained an arrest warrant for McVey on a charge of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
Police said officers executed the warrant at McVey’s residence on March 17, 2026, taking him into custody without incident. He was transported to New Rochelle Police Headquarters for processing and later arraigned in New Rochelle City Court.
Authorities said a temporary order of protection was issued, directing McVey to stay away from the superintendent and any Board of Education buildings, including all New Rochelle schools.
“The New Rochelle Police Department takes all threats seriously and works diligently to protect the safety of our community, including school administrators and staff,” the department said in a statement. “This arrest demonstrates our commitment to thoroughly investigating and addressing any behavior that endangers public safety.”
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On March 17, 2026, McVey appeared before Judge Michelle Bernstein for arraignment following a return on the warrant. The court record indicates the warrant was executed, the defendant was arraigned, and a temporary order of protection was continued, with a prior order vacated. McVey was released under non-monetary conditions.
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According to PIX11 News, the City School District of New Rochelle said in a statement that it was “grateful to the New Rochelle Police Department for quickly apprehending the individual who threatened Superintendent Reynolds several weeks ago.”
The district said that following the individual’s release from police custody, he “continues to threaten Superintendent Reynolds” and has “now escalated to also threaten members of the Board of Education.”
The statement emphasized that “there has been no threat to any of our students, teachers, staff, or buildings.”
The district added that it is continuing to work with police to ensure safety across school buildings and that, as a precaution, the New Rochelle Police Department has increased its presence at some locations. “All classes and activities within the school continue to operate as usual,” the statement said.
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According to News 12, McVey posted a series of videos on a public YouTube channel in which he said he would show up at Board of Education members’ homes with a “bazooka” if they did not step down, later adding, “I’m just kidding.”
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A Jan. 22, 2026 letter from Superintendent Corey W. Reynolds states that he would recommend to the Board of Education that McVey’s probationary appointment as a world language teacher be terminated effective April 13, 2026. The letter states the Board would vote on the recommendation on March 12, 2026 and outlines McVey’s right to request the reasons for the recommendation and to submit a written response.
The letter notes that the procedure is required under Section 3031 of New York State Education Law, which provides probationary teachers with advance notice of a recommended termination, access to the stated reasons upon request, and an opportunity to respond prior to a Board of Education vote.
In an email dated Jan. 23, 2026, McVey wrote to a school official expressing interest in applying for the head varsity football coaching position and an assistant athletic director role. In the email, he stated, “I have an attorney who should get me back working at IEYMS as soon as possible,” and added that if he could not return to Isaac E. Young Middle School, he would seek a transfer to the high school if Spanish teaching positions were available. 
Additional emails from early February show escalating tensions between McVey and school officials regarding job performance and his employment status. In one message, McVey wrote that he did “NOT accept the fact that I am being ‘terminated’ in mid-April for no apparent reason,” and referenced potential legal action and communication through an attorney.
In a subsequent message to union leadership, McVey wrote that representation no longer applied to him and stated that all communication should go through his attorneys, adding that he would be filing a civil lawsuit against the district. He also wrote that there would be “various articles coming out in the local newspapers about the incompetence of district leadership,” and described the situation as one that “will be ugly and cause an uproar in the community.”
In response, union leadership outlined concerns regarding missed deadlines, failure to submit grades, and alleged violations of district policies, including travel during the workday and discussing employment matters with other staff.
McVey also contacted Talk of the Sound to propose a story about the City School District of New Rochelle. In his outreach, he described what he called “a fascinating new story” and “the corrupt City School District of New Rochelle,” stating that he had been placed on paid administrative leave and referencing a planned civil lawsuit involving school officials.
Separate text messages show this reporter seeking information of an event at City Hall that led to a lockdown and referenced an email sent to Superintendent Reynolds. In the exchange, the recipient responded they were unaware of the incident and asked for more information. The reporter replied that police had confirmed an incident but declined to discuss details due to an active investigation and that an email had been sent to City Hall staff. The recipient later stated they were in Los Angeles at the time.
In more recent communications, McVey promoted a newly created YouTube channel, encouraging members of the New Rochelle community to “like and subscribe” and describing it as a forum for taxpayers in the city.
https://youtube.com/@cityschooldistrictofnewrochell?si=MxtV_vR5-meffqg7
McVey discussed his arrest in his most recent video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WAFUh6AHooY
McVey is represented by assigned counsel David I. Rifas. The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in New Rochelle.
The next court appearance is scheduled for April 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in New Rochelle City Court. The matter is set for a discovery proceeding, and a judge has not yet been assigned.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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