A West Virginia teacher and state delegate, David Elliott Pritt, 36, has been federally charged with enticement of a minor after an affidavit alleges he groomed an eighth-grade student via Roblox and Snapchat. Investigators say the contact escalated to explicit photo exchanges in summer 2025 and multiple sexual encounters at school through late 2025. Authorities allege Pritt continued to request images through July 2026 and pressured the student to remain silent. Pritt was removed from his House roles as leadership reviews possible expulsion.
West Virginia Teacher-Lawmaker Accused Of Grooming Student Via Roblox, Snapchat
Classroom at school
David Elliott Pritt, a 36-year-old teacher who also serves in the West Virginia House of Delegates, has been arrested and federally charged with enticement of a minor after a federal affidavit alleges he groomed an eighth-grade student online and engaged in sexual activity with her at school.
Allegations and Timeline
According to the affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital, the girl’s family reported the matter to law enforcement on July 9. Investigators say Pritt first contacted the student while she was in eighth grade during the 2024–25 school year. Their communications allegedly began on the online gaming platform Roblox and later moved to the messaging app Snapchat.
The alleged victim told investigators Pritt first contacted her while she was an eighth-grade student during the 2024-25 school year.
Prosecutors contend the messages became increasingly personal, that Pritt told the girl he loved her, and that during the summer of 2025 he sent a sexually explicit photo of himself and asked for nude images, which the girl told investigators she provided. After both the teacher and the student moved to the local high school, the affidavit alleges the student performed sexual acts on Pritt in his classroom approximately five to ten times, with the last encounter occurring around December 2025 or January 2026.
Investigators say Pritt continued to request sexually explicit photographs through July 2026 and allegedly pressured the girl not to tell anyone, warning that police would seize phones and "open up hell in our lives," and saying the allegations "would be in the news" and that he "would lose [his] entire life." Federal agents allege there is probable cause that Pritt used interstate communications between May 2025 and July 2026 to entice the minor to produce child sexual abuse material and to engage in sexual activity in violation of West Virginia law.
Official Response and Status
Pritt was elected to the West Virginia legislature as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2023.
State House Speaker Roger Hanshaw described the allegations as "shocking, disgusting and disappointing in every way," removed Pritt from his House roles and urged his resignation. A spokesperson for Hanshaw said House leadership has taken the only administrative action currently available and is reviewing the constitutional process for expulsion, which would require a two-thirds vote of House members. Fayette County Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Background
Pritt has represented Fayette County’s District 50 in the West Virginia House of Delegates since 2022. He was elected as a Democrat and switched to the Republican Party in 2023. He is currently accused in a federal investigation; these are allegations and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
Note: This article reports allegations from a federal affidavit. No conviction has been reported in the public record at this time.
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