A former Spanish teacher from a Westchester County middle school has found himself in legal trouble after making a threatening remark towards his ex-supervisor. Samuel McVey, 46, who once taught at Isaac E. Young Middle School in New Rochelle, was apprehended on Tuesday. He now faces charges of second-degree aggravated harassment for allegedly threatening the schools’ Superintendent, Corey Reynolds, according to sources and New Rochelle police.
The incident dates back to February 5th when McVey reportedly issued threats that “specifically targeted” Reynolds following his dismissal from the teaching position. The arrest warrant details that McVey contacted his former employer’s secretary multiple times via email, stating his intent to go to the school “with guns” and that he “had a bullet” for Reynolds.
These alarming messages were sent as replies to his termination letter, which had been emailed to him. The warrant further states that McVey’s communications instilled fear in Reynolds for his personal safety as well as the safety of the schools when he received these menacing emails.
McVey allegedly made the threats on Feb. 5 that “specifically targeted” Reynolds after getting the boot.
He “knowingly contact his former employer’s secretary multiple times via email that he was ‘coming to the building with guns’ and that ‘we have a bullet for Corey’s head,” according to the arrest warrant.
“The defendant did so by replying to his termination letter that he was sent via email to his personal email,” the document said. “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.”
In a letter to district parents this week, Reynolds explained “a police presence” at the school.
“As you may recall, an individual issued a threat against me several weeks ago,” he wrote. “That individual has again contacted the school district and injdicated they are back in our area.
“While the threat was directed specifically toward me and not toward any school building, student or any staff member, we have partnered with the City of New Rochelle Police Department to request a police presence at our schools to ensure a smooth school day,” Reynolds added.
Police said McVey was arrested after cops executed the warrant at his home.
In a bizarre rant posted on his YouTube channel Wednesday, McVey denied threatening Reynolds, calling himself a “big teddy bear” and a “gentle giant,” and called local news reports on his arrest “fake news.”
“The point is, oh my gosh, now everyone thinks I’m a violent criminal,” he said while sitting inside what appears to be a passenger in a moving vehicle. “Oh my God, are you serious? I never even touched a gun in my entire life. Would I want to possess a firearm? No. I’m not a coward.”
He said he would be attending law school next year, boasting, “I will negotiate you under the table.”
He pleaded not guilty and was released pending a return court date next month, and was served with an order of protection to stay away from Reynolds, school board members and district properties.
New Rochelle police said in a statement that the department “takes all threats seriously,” but did not reveal the content of McVey’s alleged threat.
