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West Virginia lawmaker Elliott Pritt arrested on federal enticement charges

newsJul 22, 20261613,018

Federal authorities arrested West Virginia State Delegate and Assistant Majority Leader David Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, on a charge of enticing a minor after investigators say he groomed a 15-year-old girl via the gaming platform Roblox and later Snapchat. Court documents say the investigation began in early July after a family reported allegations of sexual assault and that communications allegedly started while the victim was in eighth grade before moving to Snapchat. The complaint alleges Pritt expressed romantic feelings, sent inappropriate photos, solicited explicit images during the summer of 2025, and that a physical relationship began later that year with encounters in his classroom that ceased around early 2026 while messaging continued into July. Pritt made an initial appearance before federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley and prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said they will argue for his continued detention under a rebuttable presumption. Pritt represents District 50, serves on multiple House committees and as Assistant Majority Leader, and works as a Fayette County social studies teacher; court filings note he holds a master’s degree in teaching from Concord University and previously served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 2008 to 2014. Delegate Kayla Young and the West Virginia Republican Party have publicly called for Pritt’s resignation.

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