Former West Virginia Republican lawmaker and schoolteacher David Elliott Pritt has pleaded guilty to using Snapchat to persuade a 14-year-old girl to produce and send him sexually explicit images after months of communication through the messaging app.
Pritt, 36, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty on 10 November to one count of attempted production of child pornography, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Court documents and court statements show the Snapchat communications began around June 2025 and continued through at least January 2026.
At the time of the offence, Pritt worked as a teacher for Fayette County Schools and represented Fayette County in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
He was arrested on 22 July 2026 following an investigation, then resigned from the legislature. The Fayette County Board of Education suspended him before terminating his employment.
Pritt Sent Explicit Images to Teenager Through Snapchat
As part of his guilty plea, Pritt admitted sending the girl sexually explicit images of his genitals, telling her he loved her and was sexually attracted to her, and trying to persuade her to take and send him explicit images through Snapchat.
During his 10 November court appearance, Pritt also acknowledged exchanging sexually explicit images with the girl on more than 10 occasions, according to West Virginia Watch. Under the plea agreement, he will surrender his mobile phone and laptop, the judge said, the publication reported.
Plea Deal Dismisses Two Felony Charges
A federal grand jury indicted Pritt on 19 August 2026 on three felony counts: attempted production of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and witness tampering. The indictment alleged that he attempted to prevent the girl from sharing information about a federal crime with law enforcement.
NEW: FORMER LEGISLATOR AND EX-TEACHER INDICTED
— HSI Washington DC (@HSI_DC) August 20, 2026
A grand jury indicted David Elliott Pritt on child sexual exploitation and witness tampering charges.@HSI_DC arrested Pitt last month.
READ MORE 👇👇👇 https://t.co/U9V4UIfFFL pic.twitter.com/WM9loaWvn6
Under the plea agreement, Pritt pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography, while prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other two charges. The allegations in the dismissed counts should not be treated as offences to which he pleaded guilty.
US Attorney Moore Capito said the plea was reached in consultation with the victim and her family. He also criticised Pritt's conduct in light of his former teaching role.
'Parents send their children to school trusting that the adults there will keep them safe. Elliott Pritt violated that trust,' Capito said.
He added that prosecutors hoped the plea would allow the girl and her family to 'heal in privacy as they move forward'.
Pritt Faces Up to 30 Years in Federal Prison
Pritt is scheduled to be sentenced on 4 March 2027. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years.
He also faces at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 (approximately £187,000), and mandatory sex offender registration.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. Assistant US Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Amy L. McLaughlin are prosecuting the case.
The prosecution was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide DOJ initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse facilitated through the internet.
The case highlights the risks children can face through private messaging platforms, where adults may use direct communication to exploit young people. While Pritt's guilty plea resolves one of the three federal charges, his sentencing will determine the prison term he receives.
