Wetzel County Superintendent Dennis Albright Charged In Charleston Prostitution Sting, Expected to Resign
WHEELING – The Wetzel County Board of Education on Tuesday is expected to accept the resignation of their superintendent, Dennis Albright, who was arrested Thursday in a prostitution sting in Charleston.
Albright was arrested during an Internet prostitution sting. He was in Charleston for the legislative session when he allegedly talked with an undercover officer posing as a prostitute online. They met at a hotel where Albright allegedly offered the undercover officer money for sex. He was arrested and given a summons to appear in court, and is scheduled to be arraigned March 26 in Charleston.
According to a notice from the board of education, the meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the board office, 333 Foundry St., New Martinsville. An interim superintendent also is expected to be appointed.
Officials at the Wetzel County Board of Education office said Friday that Albright was not in the office working, but they were aware of his arrest. Albright could not be reached for comment Friday.
Board of Education President Michael Blair said he was shocked to hear of the arrest. He said until Tuesday’s meeting, Assistant Superintendent Jay Yeager will serve as chief administrative officer of the school system per his written job description.
Charleston Chief of Detectives Steve Cooper said Albright, 58, is being charged with engaging in prostitution.
“He told our detectives he was in town on legislative business. Our prostitutes, the real prostitutes, tell us during the legislative session, they tend to be busier,” Cooper said.
In addition to Albright, five other men were arrested in separate stings Thursday.
“Our detectives were in the next room. When a transaction was agreed upon they entered the room and took the ‘john’ into custody,” Cooper said, adding both cameras and listening devices were planted in the room.
Cooper said his department conducts prostitution stings year-round.
“We try to keep the schedule unpredictable, but it tends to be a good deterrent if a potential John knows detectives could come through the door at any moment,” he said.
Cooper said the officers who perform the undercover stings have a lot of experience dealing with prostitutes in the Charleston area.
“They have experience working with real prostitutes on the street. … It’s part of being a police officer, having to play act or get into character and be believable … They have to sell it and some are better than others. These officers are good at it,” Cooper said.
The other men arrested in the sting included: Andre Brown, 36, of Charleston; Bradford Poe, 49, of Proctorville, Ohio; Rob Blake, 48, of Barboursville, W.Va.; Jeremy Dunlap, 33, of Charleston; and Steven Bissell, 38, of Gandyville, W.Va. Dunlap also was charged with simple possession of marijuana.