CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia Delegate and Fayette County high school teacher David Elliott Pritt will remain in federal custody after appearing in U.S. District Court on Wednesday following his arrest on a federal criminal complaint alleging enticement of a minor.
During the initial appearance on July 22, Pritt appeared before the court with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Herrald representing the government and Assistant Federal Public Defender Jonathan D. Byrne representing the defendant. U.S. Probation Officer Shamika Wade was also present.
According to the court order, Pritt was informed of the charge against him, his right to legal counsel, and matters relating to conditions of release. The court also advised him that he was not required to make a statement and that any statement he made could be used against him.
Pritt was not asked to enter a plea during the hearing.
After reviewing a financial affidavit submitted by Pritt, the court determined he qualified for court-appointed counsel and appointed the Office of the Federal Public Defender to represent him.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, July 27, in Charleston, where the court will determine whether there is sufficient probable cause for the case to proceed.
The court also granted the government’s motion for a detention hearing, which will be held at the same time. Until then, Pritt has been ordered detained and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Pritt was arrested Wednesday on a federal charge of enticement of a minor.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators allege he communicated with a 15-year-old girl through Roblox before moving the conversations to Snapchat, where the exchanges allegedly became sexual and led to multiple sexual encounters in his classroom at Oak Hill High School.
Pritt is currently at the Carter County, Kentucky Detention Center.
Those allegations remain accusations, and Pritt is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
