A West Virginia teacher who also serves as a Republican state lawmaker is facing federal allegations that he used Roblox, the widely used online gaming platform, to groom a teenage student before allegedly committing sexual acts with her at school, according to a federal affidavit obtained by INC News.
David Elliott Pritt, 36, a Republican delegate in the West Virginia House representing Fayette County, was arrested this week and charged in federal court with enticement of a minor.
Federal prosecutors allege Pritt used interstate communications to persuade, induce or entice the girl into unlawful sexual activity and to produce child sexual abuse material.
David Elliott Pritt, 36, a West Virginia lawmaker and former teacher, was arrested on federal charges accusing him of using Roblox and social media to entice a 15-year-old student into a sexual relationship, according to court records. Authorities allege the abuse began while the girl was in his class. (Carter County Detention Center)
The case began after the girl’s family brought the allegations to law enforcement on July 9, according to the affidavit obtained and reviewed by INC News.
The girl told investigators that Pritt initially contacted her during the 2024-25 school year, when she was an eighth grader and he was teaching middle school in Fayette County. Investigators say their exchanges started on Roblox and later shifted to Snapchat.
The affidavit states that the messages grew increasingly personal, with Pritt eventually telling the girl he loved her. During the summer of 2025, he allegedly sent her a sexually explicit image of himself through Snapchat and asked her to send nude photographs in return. The girl told investigators she did so.
The alleged victim told investigators that Pritt first reached out to her while she was an eighth grade student during the 2024-25 academic year. (Jeffrey Basinger/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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After both moved to the local high school, the girl alleged Pritt repeatedly asked her to meet him in his classroom, where she said she performed sexual acts on him approximately five to 10 times. The final encounter allegedly occurred around December 2025 or January 2026.
According to the affidavit, Pritt continued requesting sexually explicit photographs through July 2026 and urged the girl not to tell anyone about their relationship. Investigators said he warned her police would seize their phones and “open up hell in our lives.” He also allegedly said the allegations “would be in the news” before adding, “I would lose my entire life.”
Federal investigators allege there is probable cause to believe Pritt knowingly used interstate communications between May 2025 and July 2026 to entice the minor to produce child sexual abuse material and engage in sexual activity in violation of West Virginia law.
Pritt has represented Fayette County’s District 50 in the West Virginia House of Delegates since 2022. He was elected as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2023.
Pritt was elected to the West Virginia legislature as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2023. (Joseph Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group)
State House Speaker Roger Hanshaw called the allegations “shocking, disgusting and disappointing in every way” and removed Pritt from his House roles.
Hanshaw also urged Pritt to resign.
A spokesperson for Hanshaw told INC News House leadership has taken the only administrative action currently available by removing Pritt from his House roles and is reviewing the constitutional process for expulsion, which would require the support of two-thirds of elected House members.
“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 said in a statement.
Fayette County Schools did not immediately respond to INC News’s request for comment.
