A principal in Wellsburg, West Virginia, has been arrested and charged after authorities discovered four secret recording devices hidden in girls' locker rooms at Brooke High School. Eric James, 53, was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of intentionally intercepting or attempting to intercept wire, oral, or electronic communication and one count of breaking and entering a non-residence.
James, who has served as principal since 2023 and has over three decades of experience in education, was booked into the Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond. The school district confirmed his suspension as the investigation continues.
"The safety, security, and privacy of our students are fundamental responsibilities of our school system. Conduct that compromises those responsibilities will not be tolerated," the school district said in a statement.
According to Brooke County Sheriff Richard Beatty, a security guard discovered one of the pen-like recording devices. Footage recovered from the device showed James placing and adjusting the camera. A criminal complaint obtained by WTOV-TV indicated that another video file captured a high school student changing in the locker room.
Deputies obtained search warrants for James's home and, according to the complaint, he admitted to placing the devices. The four recording devices were found in various female locker and changing areas, including those used by the dance team, physical education classes, and varsity athletes.
Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden stated that the initial charges were intended to "get him off the streets" and noted that James could face additional charges as the investigation progresses. Cowden explained that James violated wiretapping laws and entered school areas with criminal intent. The sheriff's office confirmed that other schools in the district have been searched and found to be clear of any devices.
The recordings have been submitted to a crime lab for analysis to determine timestamps, though investigators believe the devices were present since the beginning of the school year.
The incident has deeply affected the school community, with students expressing feelings of betrayal and shock. One senior shared on Facebook that he had viewed James as a father figure.
Since James's arrest, three civil lawsuits, including a class action suit filed by parents, have been initiated against him. The Brooke County Board of Education has also been named as a defendant in two of these complaints. James's former employer, the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, stated that a review of his personnel file revealed no prior allegations or suspicious devices during his tenure there, which ended in 2023. They also conducted a sweep of their facilities and found them to be secure.