A West Virginia school principal is accused of installing secret cameras in girls' locker rooms and watching students undress via livestream, according to a new lawsuit.
Eric James, 53, faces civil complaints from 11 students alleging he placed four hidden cameras in locker rooms and changing areas while he served as principal at Brooke High School in Wellsburg, West Virginia. The allegations stem from events at multiple schools where James previously worked.
One student, who was part of the soccer team at a former school, claimed James would wait for her at the locker room door, allow her entry, and then allegedly disappear to view live camera footage as she changed. Another student reported that while using the changing rooms at Brooke High for an away game, she believes James was viewing the live camera feed.
A 17-year-old Brooke High student also stated in her lawsuit that she believes she was captured on one of the alleged secret cameras while changing at the school.
The lawsuits state that students had made reports or complaints concerning James's conduct years prior, when he taught as a gym teacher at Cameron High School between 2000 and 2018.
James was suspended from his position as principal at Brooke High School last week and remains in custody at the Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond. A criminal investigation is ongoing, and James has not yet entered a plea. An attorney for James has not been publicly identified. The Brooke County Board of Education, also named in the lawsuits, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
All civil complaints, including a class action suit filed on behalf of eight students, are seeking monetary damages to be determined by a jury. The class action lawsuit states that the alleged invasion of privacy was not momentary and that each day the devices remained hidden exposed children to further observation.