Pritt resigns from WV House after arrest, appears in federal court

Del. Elliott Pritt resigned from the state House of Delegates on Monday with a one-sentence letter to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.

“I resign from the West Virginia House of Delegates, effective immediately,” wrote Pritt, R-Fayette.

The letter came shortly after Pritt appeared before federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley, where he waived his right to preliminary and detention hearings. 

Pritt, who worked as a public school teacher, was arrested last week in Oak Hill and federally charged with enticement of a minor. 

The family of a 15-year-old female reported to law enforcement that the child was sexually abused by Pritt.

According to a criminal complaint, Pritt, 36, allegedly began communicating with the girl when she was in eighth grade in 2024 through the online game Roblox, then later on Snapchat.

Pritt also allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself and requested that the girl send nude photos of herself through Snapchat. The exchange of images occurred during 2025 and 2026, according to the complaint. 

The complaint said that Pritt later initiated a physical relationship with the minor and requested that she meet him in his classroom at Oak Hill High School to engage in sexual activity at least five to ten times.

Since his arrest last week, numerous lawmakers have called for Pritt’s resignation as well as for Gov. Patrick Morrisey to call a special session for members to vote on his expulsion from the House.

“As many of us had requested as soon as these heinous accusations were brought to light, Elliott Pritt resigned from public service today. Our thoughts remain with these families and these victims,” Hanshaw, R-Clay, said in a statement.

In response to Pritt’s resignation, Morrisey posted on social media, “Good riddance to the terrible former WV Del. Elliot Pritt. He just resigned.”

Pritt was first elected as a Democrat to the House in 2022. He switched to the Republican party in 2023.

Hanshaw had already removed Pritt from all official roles connected with his service as a member of the House, including his role as assistant majority leader. 

Pritt was often an outspoken member of the Republican supermajority in the House, advocating for public school issues and anti-child abuse legislation. 

Pritt appeared at the federal courthouse in Charleston on Monday wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. There, he was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he’ll remain throughout the remainder of the case, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito told reporters after the hearing. 

Speaking about the case and crimes against children broadly, Capito encouraged parents to “have those difficult conversations” with their children. 

“I can tell you that folks that are out there that seek to do harm to our children will use every technological advantage that they can, and every maneuver that they know, to groom these children as slowly as that takes to ultimately come to what we all consider to be a really horrible, horrible ending,” Capito said. “So have those difficult conversations with your children. Make them age appropriate. Let them know that if people are testing your comfort zones, to come to you as parents and talk about it. And as parents, come to your law enforcement officers and report what you’ll hear from your children.”

The case against Pritt will next be presented to a federal grand jury, Capito said. 

The executive committee of the West Virginia Republican Party has moved to disavow Pritt from the party following his arrest for enticing a child and having a sexual relationship with the minor. 

Pritt has not removed himself as a candidate on the ballot for the November election in his district. 

It’s likely that Pritt will have to remain on the ballot in Fayette County due to a 2024 Republican-sponsored bill that restricts how the state Republican party can deal with Pritt’s seat ahead of the election. The legislation prohibits political parties from replacing a nominee late in the election process.