CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Wetzel County Board of Education scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday night to “accept the tendered resignation” of Superintendent Dennis Albright who was arrested Thursday night in a Charleston prostitution sting.
The board’s meeting agenda includes the appointment of an interim superintendent.
School board president Michael said in a prepared statement he was “shocked” to learn of Albright’s arrest.
“Naturally, at this moment, the board is not aware of all the relevant facts and must exercise discretion and restraint before meeting to consider taking any official action. In due course, the Board of Education will call an official public meeting and consider what actions to pursue. In the meantime, in the absence of the county superintendent, our assistant superintendent Jay Yeager will serve as chief administrative officer of the school system per his written job description,” Blair said.
Charleston police chief of detectives Lt. Steve Cooper said Albright, 57, and five other men were charged with engaging in prostitution.
“These are men that come into the hotel and they make an agreement with the undercover female police officer to exchange money for sexual favors,” Cooper said.
Undercover officers posed as escorts on the internet site ‘Backpage’ where the men arrested made the initial contact. Police said Albright confirmed the meeting with the undercover officer by text. Cooper said Albright, 57, of New Martinsville, and the others were arrested in hotel rooms.
“Once the agreement is made the detectives are located in the adjacent room and they basically burst into the room and take the ‘john’ into custody,” Cooper said.
Detectives did not know Albright was a county school superintendent until word circulated about his arrest. He told officers he was visiting Charleston.
“He told detectives he was here on legislative business. Sometimes men who come into town from a different area will go onto the internet and look for escorts. That’s what we’re trying to deter now,” Cooper said.
Albright and the others were taken to Charleston Municipal Court on a summons and then released. Another court appearance is scheduled for March 26. Albright is the former superintendent in Braxton County.
One of the other men arrested, Bradford Poe, 48, is reportedly a minister from Proctorville, Ohio.
Others arrested in the sting:
— Andre Mondale Brown of Charleston, 35.
— Jeremy Lawrence Dunlap of Charleston, 32.
— Rob Lee Blake of Barboursville, W.Va., 47.
— Steven Ellis Bissell of Gandyville, W.Va., 37.
— Bradford C. Poe of Proctorville, Ohio, 48.