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West Virginia lawmaker Elliott Pritt arrested on federal enticement charges

newsJul 22, 20261611,951

Federal authorities arrested West Virginia State Delegate and Assistant Majority Leader David Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, on a federal charge of enticing a minor after a court complaint said he groomed a 15-year-old girl. Court documents show investigators opened a probe in early July after a family reported a sexual assault allegation and say Pritt initially contacted the girl on the gaming platform Roblox before moving communications to Snapchat. The complaint alleges Pritt expressed romantic feelings, sent inappropriate photos, solicited images from the minor during the summer of 2025, and later instructed the victim to meet him in his classroom for sexual encounters that began later that year and ended around early 2026. The records say online messaging with the minor continued into July and that Pritt warned the victim to keep quiet, citing the potential fallout from his roles as an educator and legislator. Pritt made an initial appearance before federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley and prosecutors said they will seek his continued detention under a rebuttable presumption. Pritt represents District 50, sits on the Education, Educational Choice and Higher Education, Corrections and Public Safety, and Veterans' Affairs committees, and holds a master’s degree in teaching from Concord University. Del. Kayla Young and the West Virginia Republican Party both called for his resignation following the arrest.

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