A former New York City education official is accused of trying to meet a Wisconsin teenager for sex, according to federal authorities. The U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin issued a news release Friday that details the case against 39-year-old David A. Hay.
Hay then appeared in federal court Friday. A judge put him on home detention at his parent's house until his preliminary hearing. He will also be subject to electronic monitoring.
Starting in July of 2019, federal authorities say Hay began chatting on a dating app with someone who he believed was a 14-year-old boy. The "boy" was actually a Neenah Police investigator operating undercover.
The news release states that Hay booked a “whirlpool suite” at a Neenah area hotel for the purpose of meeting the teen for sex. Following Hay’s arrest, authorities say a search of his smart phone revealed sexually explicit images of a former Tomah High School student. Hay was the principal at that school from 2011-2014, federal authorities say. Prior to that, the news release says he was an administrator at Kettle Moraine High School for several years.
Hay faces a charge of using a computer to attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He has also been charged with possessing child pornography.
"Within the criminal complaint there are a number of questions I think," Hay's attorney, Jonathan Smith, said. "From my perspective, I think there's been a little bit of a rush to judgment. The complaint itself doesn't suggest my client ever actually tried to meet anyone."
According to the news release, Hay faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted of the enticement charge, and up to 10 years imprisonment if convicted of the child pornography possession charge.
As previously reported , the Neenah Police Department says 39-year-old David Arnold Hay was arrested at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on Sunday.
The New York Times reports he worked under New York City's Department of Education. Authorities in Wisconsin notified New York City officials hours after the arrest.
Hay worked as deputy chief of staff to the chancellor Richard Carranza. The Department of Education said it fired Mr. Hay after the arrest.
