Four devices were found at the school in total, according to authorities
Credit: WVDOC
NEED TO KNOW
- A West Virginia high school principal was arrested after four recording devices were found in areas used by female students to change clothes
- The man, 53-year-old Eric James, has been charged with three felonies: two counts of breaking and entering and one count related to intercepting electronic communications
- Authorities said that at least one of the devices found was pen-shaped
A high school principal in West Virginia has been arrested and charged after allegedly placing recording devices in several changing areas designated for female students at the school.
The devices were discovered at Brooke High School in Wellsburg in Brooke County, according to Fox affiliate WTOV 9, WDTV and WTRF.
Eric James was arrested in connection with the incident on Thursday, Sept. 3, according to the outlets, as well as public Brooke County inmate records.
James, 53, has since been charged with two felony counts of breaking and entering and one felony count of intentionally intercepting or attempting to intercept wire, oral electronic communication, per Brooke County Magistrate records.
An attorney for James did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the charges.
Credit: google maps
In a press conference held on Thursday, Brooke County Sheriff Richard Beatty said that a school custodian initially discovered a device that looked like an “ink pen” while cleaning on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The employee soon realized it was a recording device, at which point he immediately took the device to authorities, per West Virginia Metro News.
Beatty said investigators promptly swept the school, and four devices were found in total — two in an area where the school’s dance team changes clothes, one in the girls’ varsity locker room and a fourth in the girls’ P.E. locker room, per the outlet.
The sheriff said authorities quickly identified James as their suspect.
“When we opened up that first device, there was actual footage of him setting it in place and adjusting the camera angle to be sure he was getting what he was looking for,” Beatty said, per Metro News.
He added that an investigation is ongoing, per the outlet.
The Brooke County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
During Thursday’s press conference, Brooke County Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said the school district had been made aware of the recording devices the previous afternoon.
“Our main priority is our kids,” Crook said, adding, “The kids feel betrayed. I think we all feel a little bit betrayed.”
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement, and we will continue to do that,” he continued.
The Brooke County School District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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In a statement to the public shared by local outlet LEDE News, the district said school administrators would be “meeting with students, parents and staff to offer supportive measures while the investigations continue.”
James is currently being held on a $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing date is scheduled for Sept. 14, according to court records.
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