Eric James, 53, was arrested after 11 students sued, alleging he hid four live-streaming cameras in girls’ changing areas at Brooke High School in Wellsburg, West Virginia. Devices were reportedly recovered from the PE locker room, the dance-team dressing room and the girls’ varsity locker room. The complaint alleges similar reports dating back to 2000–2018 and says students were subjected to ongoing secret observation. James was booked on a $100,000 bond and faces two felony charges; he is due in court on Sept. 16.
West Virginia Principal Arrested After Lawsuit Alleges Hidden Live-Stream Cameras in Girls’ Locker Rooms
WVDOC; Google Maps
Eric James, 53, a former high school principal in West Virginia, was arrested after a lawsuit alleges he concealed live-streaming cameras inside multiple girls’ changing areas to watch students undress. Eleven students have joined the civil suit, which says four recording devices were installed while James served as principal at Brooke High School in Wellsburg.
Details of the Allegations
According to the complaint and local reporting, recording devices were recovered from the girls’ PE locker room, a dressing room used by the school’s dance team, and the girls’ varsity locker room, the Jefferson County sheriff’s office and Fox 8 reported via the Daily Mail. One student described an incident in which James would "wait for her at the locker room door, let her in and then disappear," behavior the filing says was consistent with him leaving to view live footage while the student was undressing.
Facebook/Eric James
"The resulting invasion of the bodily privacy of Plaintiffs and other students was not momentary. Every day that the devices remained concealed and operational exposed children to additional secret observation and recording," the lawsuit states.
The complaint also alleges similar reports about James’ conduct going back to his tenure as a gym teacher at Cameron High School, with incidents spanning from about 2000 through 2018.
Criminal Charges and Case Status
James was booked into the Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond. He faces two felony charges: violating West Virginia’s wiretapping law and unlawful entry (described in the complaint as "entering without breaking"). He has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
This is a developing matter. The allegations in the lawsuit remain allegations until proven in court; reporting is based on the complaint and statements from law enforcement and media outlets covering the case.
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