By Eric Cravey
For The Register-Herald
Beckley — West Virginia Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw said late Wednesday that Fayette County Del. Elliott Pritt should resign his seat in the House of Delegates.
Hanshaw’s comments came just hours after Pritt had appeared in a federal courtroom in Charleston to face charges that he had used the online game Roblox and the messaging platform Snapchat to entice a minor girl to send him elicit photos and meet him in person. According to the federal complaint, the girl claimed she and Pritt had sex between 5- and 10 times and he had told her that he loved her. Both Hanshaw and Pritt are Republicans.
“What Elliott Pritt is accused of doing is shocking, disgusting and disappointing in every way. My heart aches for his family, and if any part of these serious allegations are true, the law should be applied in full force,” Hanshaw, R-Clay, said in a statement. “No child should ever be exploited by anyone, especially by the adults placed in positions of trust and charged with preparing young people, many of whom our statistics tell us unfortunately have no other caring adult figures in their lives. Effective immediately, Delegate Pritt has been removed from all official roles connected with his service as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.”
Thirty-six-year-old David Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, made his first appearance before Judge Dwayne L. Tinsley on Wednesday, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Charleston.
According to the complaint, the family of a 15-year-old girl reported to law enforcement that their daughter “had been sexually abused by Pritt.” The next day, July 10, 2026, the minor took part in a forensic interview regarding the allegations.
Law enforcement identified Pritt as a high school teacher in Fayette County who had previously served as a Fayette County middle school teacher.
”I urge Elliott Pritt, for the benefit of his family and the people of his District, to spare his students and his colleagues at every level the continued embarrassments and distractions and to resign from elected office as soon as he is able,” Hanshaw said.
Meanwhile, Fayette County School Superintendent David A. Warvel refused to comment on Pritt’s arrest under the premise of it still being an active investigation.
“Fayette County Schools is aware of the reported federal charges involving a Fayette County Schools employee,” Warvel said in a prepared statement. “Because this is an active investigation, we are unable to provide additional comment at this time. Fayette County Schools will fully cooperate with law enforcement as the investigation progresses. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority.”
Warvel did not comment on whether Pritt has been relieved of his job or placed on any type of administrative leave while the investigation continues nor whether the Fayette County Board of Education will address the matter at its regular meeting next week.
According to the court documents, the girl told investigators that she and Pritt met on numerous occasions in his classroom at Oak Hill High School where Pritt “initiated a physical relationship with her” during late 2025. The complaint says the meetings led to sexual relations in his classroom “approximately five to ten occasions.”
According to the complaint, Pritt’s last physical encounter with Minor Female 1 occurred in “approximately December 2025 or January 2026. However, Pritt continued to communicate with Minor Female 1 on Snapchat until July 2026 and continued to request that she send him explicit photographs,” states the federal court filing.
Judge Dwayne L. Tinsley ordered Pritt to be detained by the U.S. Marshals Service “pending the next hearing,” which is scheduled for July 27 at 2 p.m. in Charleston.
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