WV STATEWIRECHARLESTON — On Monday, Former Del. Elliott Pritt pleaded “not guilty” to federal charges accusing him of child sexual exploitation, coercion of a child under 18, and witness tampering. Pritt, 36, of Oak Hill, appeared in U.S. District Court in Charleston for his arraignment with court-appointed attorney Wesley P. Page. The court scheduled a pretrial motions hearing for September 16 and a jury trial for 9 a.m. October 5 before U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger. Pritt remains detained pending trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Pritt on August 19 on three felony counts. Prosecutors allege that from about March 2024 through January 2026, Pritt attempted to persuade, induce, entice or coerce a minor girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct and, beginning in June 2025, engaged in that conduct to produce sexually explicit images through the internet and cellular networks. Prosecutors also allege Pritt attempted to intimidate and persuade the girl on June 20 to prevent information about a possible federal crime from being reported to law enforcement. The investigation began after the family of a 15-year-old girl reported alleged sexual abuse July 9. According to an affidavit filed in the case, investigators alleged Pritt first communicated with the girl through Roblox while she was in eighth grade before the communications moved to Snapchat. Investigators allege the communications became sexual in 2025 and later included sexual encounters in Pritt’s classroom at Oak Hill High School.
Pritt was arrested July 22 and initially charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor. He waived preliminary and detention hearings July 27 and was ordered to remain in federal custody. He resigned from the West Virginia House of Delegates and withdrew as a candidate for the District 50 seat. He was later terminated from his teaching position with Fayette County Schools. The Fayette County Board of Education voted August 11 to suspend him without pay retroactively and terminate his employment effective immediately.
