School Principal Busted After Multiple Hidden Cameras in Girls Locker Room Were Discovered

The principal of Brooke High School in West Virginia has been arrested after investigators discovered four recording devices in areas used by female students.

Eric Michael James, 53, is being held at the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash bond (about £74,000). He faces felony charges involving the alleged interception of wire, oral or electronic communications and entering a non-residential property with the intent to commit a crime.

Brooke County officials confirmed James' arrest during a Thursday press conference at the school. Authorities said the devices were discovered in multiple girls' locker rooms and dressing areas.

'Four devices were found in a locker room area, female locker room area, a separate female locker room area, and a separate female dressing room area,' Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty said. 'Those devices were confiscated. Search warrants were conducted, electronics were seized, both from here at school and from the home of Principal Eric James in Marshall County.'

Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said the locations included the girls' physical education locker room, the girls' varsity locker room and an area used by the school's dance team.

Police Seize Electronics in Probe

The sheriff's department said it received information about the allegations at approximately 1:30pm on Wednesday. Deputies and West Virginia State Police arrived at Brooke High shortly before 4pm, after students had been dismissed.

James was detained at the school while investigators conducted searches. Electronics seized from the school and his home were taken to the West Virginia State Police forensics laboratory in Morgantown for examination.

'Once we have that information back, we will attempt to make notification of all the victims involved,' Beatty said.

Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden said the investigation could lead to further charges.

'The first felony is a violation of the state wiretapping statute,' Cowden explained. 'The second charge that he was charged with was actually entering without breaking, basically that he entered an area here in the school with the intent to commit a crime.'

She added that additional misdemeanour charges could be filed as investigators analyse the evidence.

'These were the charges that we could come up with to make sure that we could, basically, get him charged and get him off the streets and provide some satisfaction and sense of safety for the children at Brooke High School,' she said.

School Conducts Security Sweeps

The investigation prompted authorities to conduct wider security checks throughout the school district. Officials searched every toilet at Brooke High and facilities near the stadium, while state police used specialist equipment to scan for other concealed electronic devices.

'Our main priority is our kids,' Crook said. 'The kids feel betrayed. I think we all feel a little bit betrayed by this. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement, and we will continue to cooperate to make sure there is justice for this incident that unfortunately occurred.'

James has served as Brooke High's principal since June 2023 and previously held education and athletic administration roles in West Virginia and Ohio. His employment with Brooke County Schools has been suspended pending the investigation.

If James posts bond, Beatty said he will be placed under home confinement with electronic monitoring.