CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former Fayette County Delegate Elliott Pritt pleaded not guilty to three federal charges during a brief hearing Monday morning in federal court in Charleston.
Pritt, 36, was indicted last week in connection with what federal prosecutors describe as grooming by Pritt of a 15-year-old girl, forcing her into a sexual relationship. Pritt was a school teacher in Fayette County at the time.
Pritt pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar Aboulhosn to sexual exploitation of children, coercion of a child under 18 for sex and intimidating a witness.
Aboulhosn scheduled Pritt’s trial for Oct. 5 before U.S. District Judge Irene Berger. Aboulhosn will hear pretrial motions on Sept. 16.
Pritt’s court-appointed attorney Wesley Page told Aboulhosn that Pritt would not challenge his continued detention. Page did tell Aboulhosn Pritt may seek the setting of bond in the future if he is successful in being placed in a residential program overseen by the Veterans Administration. Pritt is a veteran.
Pritt is currently being held in the Carter County (KY) Detention Center.
Since his arrest earlier this summer, Pritt has resigned his seat in the House of Delegates, withdrawn as a candidate in the November General Election and has been fired by the Fayette County Board of Education.