Additional Coverage:
- Principal ‘stashed hidden cameras in girl’s school locker room’ (themirror.com)
Brooke High School Principal Arrested for Installing Hidden Cameras in Girls’ Locker Rooms
WELLSBURG, WV – Eric James, 53, principal of Brooke High School, was taken into custody after authorities discovered four concealed cameras in female student locker rooms and the dance team’s dressing area. The unsettling findings have deeply shaken the local community.
The hidden devices, disguised as a pen camera and a key fob camera, were found on the floor inside the girls’ gym locker room and the dance team’s dressing room. A school security guard first spotted the suspicious recording devices, leading to a prompt law enforcement investigation.
According to statements from the Brooke County Sheriff’s Office, footage extracted from one of the cameras clearly showed James placing and adjusting the device while looking directly into the lens. He later admitted to installing all four cameras himself.
Brooke County Sheriff Richard Beatty ordered thorough electronic and canine sweeps of all primary and intermediate schools in the district following the incident. No other recording devices were discovered during these inspections.
James was arrested on September 2 at Brooke High School after students had left for the day. He has served as principal since June 2023 and previously worked in various educational roles, including as a physical education teacher and athletic director in nearby schools.
The school district has suspended James pending further legal proceedings. He remains held at Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. If granted bail, court conditions require him to remain under strict home confinement with electronic monitoring.
This case continues to unfold as the community grapples with the breach of trust and privacy within its schools.
Read More About This Story:
- Principal ‘stashed hidden cameras in girl’s school locker room’ (themirror.com)