> W.Va. Republican Delegate charged with enticing a minor

FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A member of the West Virginia House of Delegates has been charged with enticing a minor, according to a criminal complaint.

David Elliott Pritt (R-Fayette County), 36, of Fayette County, was arrested and charged Wednesday.

According to the criminal complaint, the family of a juvenile victim reported to law enforcement that they had been sexually abused by Pritt on July 9.

On July 10, law enforcement interviewed the victim, who stated that during the 2024-2025 school year Pritt began to communicate with them and another student outside of school, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint states Pritt is also a high school teacher in Fayette County. WSAZ has reached out to Fayette County Schools for a statement.

The victim stated they began talking to Pritt on the online game Roblox and then their conversations moved to Snapchat.

The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement that conversations with Pritt on Snapchat “gradually became more personal, with each sharing their personal lives and problems with each other.”

By the end of the school year, the victim stated Pritt had told them he loved them, the criminal complaint states.

During the summer of 2025, the victim stated Pritt sent an inappropriate photograph of himself to them and began asking the victim to take and send photos of themselves, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim stated Pritt’s requests “became increasingly more explicit” and he eventually began requesting nude pictures of the victim, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement Pritt also began to send more “sexually explicit” photos and videos of himself.

The victim stated these conversations with Pritt occurred during 2025 and 2026.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim also told law enforcement five to 10 occasions of physical sexual encounters occurred between them and Pritt during late 2025.

The victim stated Pritt continued to communicate with them on Snapchat until July of this year and continued to request sexually explicit photos.

The criminal complaint states Pritt exchanged messages with the victim, asking them not to tell anyone about their conversations or physical encounters.

The victim stated that Pritt told them if they said anything then “the state police show up and take your phone and mine and open up hell in our lives. And because of me it would very much not be low key. It would be in the news. It would be awful. For both of us. And I would lose my entire life.”

Pritt was charged with one count of enticement of a minor.

Ann Ali, spokesperson for the West Virginia House of Delegates, gave the following statement:

    “While these are disturbing allegations and we all should be concerned about the welfare of this student, there is a presumption of innocence and a legal process that must be permitted to proceed; the Delegate remains a Delegate unless or until he resigns or the House as a body takes action to remove him from the seat to which he was elected.”
    Ann Ali, spokesperson for the West Virginia House of Delegates

West Virginia House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle also gave WSAZ the following statement:

    “The breaking news regarding Republican Delegate Elliott Pritt are disturbing and vile. I hope and pray that the victims will be ok and can get any help they need. It’s past time we prioritize taking action on protecting the innocent when it comes to pedophilia, abuse, and violence.”
    Sean Hornbuckle, West Virginia House Minority Leader

West Virginia Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha County) also told WSAZ:

    “The allegations contained in the federal criminal complaint against Delegate David Pritt are beyond disturbing. If these allegations are true, they represent an unforgivable betrayal of the trust placed in a teacher, and an elected official.

    The detailed allegations describe a calculated pattern of grooming and exploitation of a child over an extended period. They are horrifying to read and should shock every West Virginian.

    While Mr. Pritt is entitled to due process in the criminal justice system, he can no longer credibly serve the people of the 50th District while facing allegations of this magnitude. He should resign his seat immediately.

    Our hearts are with the young victim and anyone else who may have been harmed. We are grateful to the law enforcement officers who conducted this investigation, and we hope justice is served.

    No child should ever have to fear the very adults entrusted with their education and well-being. Protecting children must always come before protecting politicians."
    West Virginia Delegate Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha County)

In a statement on X, West Virginia Delegate Tristan Leavitt (R-Kanawha County) said:

    “The federal criminal complaint against Elliott Pritt alleges vile conduct. There is no place for this kind of abuse anywhere, much less someone in a position of trust in a school and in the community. If the allegations are true, Pritt should resign from the House of Delegates immediately...”
    West Virginia Delegate Tristan Leavitt (R-Kanawha County)

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, (R-Clay) told WSAZ:

    “What Elliott Pritt is accused of doing is shocking, disgusting and disappointing in every way. My heart aches for his family, and if any part of these serious allegations are true, the law should be applied in full force. No child should ever be exploited by anyone, especially by the adults placed in positions of trust and charged with preparing young people, many of whom our statistics tell us unfortunately have no other caring adult figures in their lives. Effective immediately, Delegate Pritt has been removed from all official roles connected with his service as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

    “In America, we all enjoy the presumption of innocence, and Delegate Pritt is entitled to that same constitutional protection. Public officials and leaders are, and rightfully should be, held to a higher standard. When the people place their trust in elected officials by entrusting them with the right to hold public office, more than the minimum is expected. The West Virginia House of Delegates simply will not tolerate conduct that even approaches what is alleged in the public filings released by federal law enforcement today. Delegate Pritt deserves the right to defend himself freely and fully in a court of law, but the public and his colleagues deserve more. West Virginia is entitled to representation that is unclouded by serious allegations of criminal behavior involving the exploitation of vulnerable citizens.

    “I urge Elliott Pritt, for the benefit of his family and the people of his District, to spare his students and his colleagues at every level the continued embarrassments and distractions and to resign from elected office as soon as he is able.”
    House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, (R-Clay)

In a statement from Del. Josh Holstein (R-Boone), Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party said:

    “The allegations against Delegate Elliott Pritt are shocking, sickening, and deeply disturbing. While every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process under the law, charges involving the exploitation and abuse of children strikes at the core of the public trust. It is simply unconscionable.

    Public officials are held to the highest standard of conduct. Given the seriousness of these federal charges, Delegate Pritt should immediately resign from the West Virginia House of Delegates. The people of his district deserve representation that is beyond reproach, and these allegations make it impossible for him to effectively serve.

    The West Virginia Republican Party has zero tolerance for the exploitation or abuse of children. If these allegations are proven in court, Delegate Pritt should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

    West Virginia Delegate Josh Holstein (R-Boone)

The West Virginia Department of Education also stated Thursday:

    “Today, I entered an order summarily suspending Elliott Pritt’s teacher certification as authorized under W. Va. Code §18A-3-6(b)(2) as a result of the charge brought against Mr. Pritt in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for enticement of a minor.

    Teachers hold a position of public trust in the school systems in which they teach and the communities that they serve. The allegation that Mr. Pritt engaged in enticement of a minor attending Fayette County Schools, the county in which Mr. Pritt was a teacher, is shocking and disturbing.

    If Mr. Pritt is ultimately convicted or pleads guilty to these charges, W. Va. Code §18A-3-6(d)(2) provides that the State Superintendent shall automatically revoke his certification. As a result, we will continue to monitor further developments in the proceedings that are underway in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

    Our deepest concerns lie with the student who is alleged to have been enticed and abused by Mr. Pritt. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) fully supports the action of Fayette County School Superintendent Warvel in suspending Mr. Pritt without pay, and the WVDE will support the Fayette County education community during this difficult time."
    West Virginia Department of Education

https://www.wsaz.com/2026/07/22/wva-del … ing-minor/