Additional Felony Charges Filed Against Former Brooke High Principal
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WELLSBURG -- Two additional felony charges have been filed in the case against the now-former principal of Brooke High School, who has been accused of hiding cameras in three girls’ locker rooms at the school.
Eric Michael James, 53, now faces three felony counts of intentionally intercepting or attempting to intercept wire, oral or electronic communication, and one felony count of breaking and entering a nonresidence, according to online magistrate records. He continues to be held in the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail on a combined $200,000 cash bond.
Represented by attorney DeMarr W. Moulton, James appeared Monday before visiting Magistrate Matt Harvey, who was appointed to the case after both of Brooke County’s magistrates recused themselves from hearing the initial charges. In light of the new charges, though, Moulton requested to waive the initial time for the preliminary hearing to consolidate all of the filings, with Harvey agreeing to continue it until 11 a.m. Sept. 21.
Moulton initially had hoped to be able to address some of the filings related to the two original felony charges Monday morning.
"There’s a motion of a bond reduction on the docket," Moulton said.
However, he agreed to file the continuance after it was noted Harvey had only been assigned to those initial charges and not any of the new charges.
Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden explained following Monday’s hearing that the new charges were filed as investigators reviewing footage collected by the hidden cameras discovered two additional individuals recorded.
Cowden said she expects additional charges to be filed as more evidence is uncovered.
"It’s a lengthy process. It’s going to be a lengthy process," Cowden said. "Brooke County Schools has been completely cooperative in the investigation, as has the West Virginia State Police and the FBI."
James, who was hired as Brooke High’s principal in 2023, was arrested and charged Sept. 3 after an initial investigation uncovered four camera devices in three girls’ locker room areas of the school, identified by Brooke County Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Crook as the girls’ physical education locker room, the girls’ varsity locker room and a locker room used by the school’s dance team.
James was suspended from his position the same day, with the Brooke County Board of Education voting Monday night to terminate his employment.
A search warrant was initiated at both the school and James’ home in Marshall County, with various electronic equipment recovered and sent to Morgantown for review.
The Brooke County Sheriff’s Department and West Virginia State Police also conducted scans for potential hidden electronics at all other Brooke County Schools facilities.