JUST IN: State Republican Lawmaker Arrested And Charged For Allegedly Enticing A Minor

A West Virginia Delegate has been charged with enticing a minor through Roblox and Snapchathttps://t.co/g72x0KZaGo pic.twitter.com/QyXBb1A17h

— WOWK 13 News (@WOWK13News) July 22, 2026

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According to a criminal complaint from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Pritt was arrested Wednesday and faces one count of enticement of a minor.

By Wednesday evening, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw called on Pritt “to resign from elected office as soon as he is able.”

“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,” said Hanshaw, R-Clay, 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.”

” … 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.

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A Republican state lawmaker from West Virginia—who also teaches high school—is accused of seducing a 15-year-old girl. Del. Elliott Pritt of Fayette County now faces federal charges and growing calls to resign.https://t.co/YNJlICNa0i

— Jim Lokay (@Lokay) July 22, 2026

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The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement that conversations with Pritt on Snapchat “gradually became more personal, with each sharing their personal lives and problems with each other.”

By the end of the school year, the victim stated Pritt had told them he loved them, the criminal complaint states.

During the summer of 2025, the victim stated Pritt sent an inappropriate photograph of himself to them and began asking the victim to take and send photos of themselves, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim stated Pritt’s requests “became increasingly more explicit” and he eventually began requesting nude pictures of the victim, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement Pritt also began to send more “sexually explicit” photos and videos of himself.

The victim stated these conversations with Pritt occurred during 2025 and 2026.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim also told law enforcement five to 10 occasions of physical sexual encounters occurred between them and Pritt during late 2025.

The victim stated Pritt continued to communicate with them on Snapchat until July of this year and continued to request sexually explicit photos.

The criminal complaint states Pritt exchanged messages with the victim, asking them not to tell anyone about their conversations or physical encounters.

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