Federal jury indicts Pritt on 3 felony counts, including alleged sexual exploitation of a child

Pritt was arrested July 22 in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and federally charged with enticement of a minor after the 15-year-old girl’s family contacted local law enforcement.

According to a criminal complaint, Pritt, 36, allegedly began communicating through Snapchat and Roblox with the girl when she was in eighth grade. Pritt later initiated a physical relationship with the minor and requested that she meet him in his classroom at Oak Hill High School, according to the criminal complaint.

The indictment added more details to the situation, alleging that Pritt attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade the minor female on June 20 with the intent to hinder, delay and prevent the communication of information about the situation to a law enforcement officer.

“With West Virginia’s children returning to school this month, now is another opportunity for parents and caregivers to have those important conversations with their kids,” Capito said in a news release. “Our children need to know that they can safely report and talk about any situation that potentially involves grooming, inappropriate behavior, or abuse.”

The federal grand jury also indicted Pritt on felony counts of coercion and enticement of a child and tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

Capito’s office noted that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Pritt is being held at a correctional facility in Kentucky.

In the wake of the arrest and disturbing allegations, Pritt resigned from the House of Delegates and was disavowed from the state Republican Party. Pritt was first elected as a Democrat to the House in 2022 then switched to the Republican Party in 2023.

Pritt also withdrew his name from the ballot for the November election as he was seeking reelection to the House in Fayette County. A relatively new state law prevents the state Republican Party from filling the vacancy on the general election ballot created by Pritt’s withdrawal.

The Fayette County Board of Education suspended and terminated Pritt’s employment.

Capito commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office on the case. He encouraged anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 304-574-4268.

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