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This has been a difficult week for many in our area.
Rumors began swirling sometime Wednesday night that an individual placed in a position of great trust in our community had been accused of an action which not only violated that trust, but the privacy of hundreds of our local youth.
I’m attempting to be very careful in my wording in this column, not because it doesn’t anger me to see this type of thing happen, but because the investigation is continuing and we don’t have all of the facts as of yet.
There was a lot of chatter on social media (the modern-day rumor mill) Thursday morning. As is understandable, people were impatient for some confirmed information. Many were angry. They wanted to know what happened. Some were critical of local media outlets for not getting a report out as quickly as they would like.
As a resident of Brooke County, and a graduate of Brooke High School, I understand that outrage. As a journalist, I need the rest of you to understand the absolute need to confirm and double-check our information before we publish anything.
The first official bit of detail came out around 11 a.m. Thursday, through a statement issued by the Brooke County School District.
That statement read, in part, "Yesterday, after students were released, Brooke County Schools was informed of a criminal investigation into allegations that a recording device was placed in a locker room at Brooke High School. School security officers and central office staff worked with law enforcement, and located and removed the devices from the high school. Immediately upon learning of these circumstances, the Superintendent removed the principal from the school and suspended him from employment pending further proceedings." No name was given, which spurred more outrage.
Officials organized a meeting at the high school for Thursday afternoon, spending close to three hours explaining the situation and answering questions.
A press conference also was held, with media asked to wait in the high school’s library while officials continued to meet with parents.
During that press conference, which lasted for just under eight minutes, officials confirmed the suspect was Eric James, the principal of the high school, and he had officially been placed under arrest and charged Thursday afternoon.
Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty confirmed, at that time, four cameras had been found in three girls’ locker room areas of the school. The suspicion is those cameras had been placed at some point around the beginning of the school year, although we were given the caveat that electronic equipment (both what was discovered at the school and other devices recovered during the initiation of a search warrant at James’ home in Marshall County) was in the hands of forensic investigators in Morgantown, and their work would provide the full picture of both what was recorded and for how long.
Beatty also reported there were no other suspects involved, and every school in the district has undergone a sweep to check for any other recording devices.
At the time I’m writing this, James remains in West Virginia Northern Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash bond. He has secured an attorney, and no preliminary hearing has been scheduled.
There is going to be a great deal of information circulating in the coming weeks. Some will be fact. Some will be rumor.
There will, no doubt, be protests. There also will probably be law firms offering their services to those affected. In fact, I’ve already seen signs of both.
It’s a difficult situation that none of us ever wants to happen. I do have confidence, though, in the Brooke County community in being able to get through it by standing together and helping each other.
The judicial process is going to be long. There is going to be more impatience and uncertainty.
It will take time to heal.
If I am to express any personal thoughts on this matter, at this time, it would be to encourage the community to show support for each other. Support those who have been affected. Work together. Be there for each other. Take pride and show strength in what connects you.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is part of the news staff of The Weirton Daily Times. He can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)