WELLSBURG, W.Va. — The Brooke County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to hidden cameras inside the girls dressing areas of Brooke High School by an alert janitor.
“A custodian found the device and it looked like an ink pen. He picked it up, put it in his pocket and didn’t think about it for the rest of the day. When he got home, he started to manipulate it and realized it wasn’t a pen, it was a recording device. He brought it down here to the Sheriff’s office and we immediately launched an investigation,” said Brooke County Sheriff Richard Beatty.
The discovery led to a search warrant and a sweep of all areas of Brooke High School and the nearby Middle School on the same campus. Beatty said investigators found three more devices. Two were located in a room where the school’s dance team regularly changes clothes. A third camera was found in the girls varsity locker room and the fourth in the girls P.E. locker room.
Beatty explained the school’s Principal, Eric James, 53, was quickly identified as the suspect who had placed the devices.
“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,” said Beatty.
Along with the footage of James adjusting the angle, they saw the first frame which revealed a female victim. They immediately stopped and have sent all four devices to the state crime lab in Morgantown. Investigators searched James’ office at the school and his school phone. They also obtained search warrants for his home in Marshall County where all electronic devices there were seized as well.
James was arrested initially on two felony charges. He’s charged with illegal wiretapping and entering without breaking.
Beatty, the county Board of Education, and the Brooke County Prosecutor met with concerned parents Thursday.
“We addressed parents’ concerns, told them where we stand in the investigation, and assured them once the information comes back and we have a chance to review everything, further charges will be forthcoming,” he said.
Beatty said it’s hard to know at this point how many female students may have been captured in compromising positions. It’s also unclear how long the cameras had been in place.
James is lodged in the Northern Regional Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. According to Beatty if he makes bond, he’ll have to remain on home confinement and wear a monitoring device until his case is adjudicated. Brooke County School Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Crook this week removed James from his position and suspended him indefinitely.
A class-action civil lawsuit was also announced Friday.