An Ohio social worker has been taken into custody for molesting a 13-year-old boy under her care.
Payton Shires, aged 24, is facing one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
These incidents are reported to have occurred in September, shortly after she obtained her social work license in June.
According to court documents, the victim’s mom found text messages from Shires asking if he had deleted videos. The mom then got the police involved, leading them to discover video on the phone of Shire and the victim having sex.
Myrtle Beach Online reported:
The boy’s mom told police she saw text messages between him and Shires. Court records say that in the texts, Shires asked the boy if he deleted videos and if his mom had seen the videos or their messages, WCMH reported.
After reading the texts, the mother was concerned. She gave the phone to investigators, and when they searched it, they say they found a video of Shires and the boy engaging in sex acts, WSYX reported. Police say the boy told them they had engaged in sex acts at least twice.
On a call with investigators and the boy’s mom, police say Shires admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the boy, according to WBNS.
Shires of Mount Sterling had previously worked with the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), an organization that focuses on assisting families within the foster care system, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch.
“Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility. The National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) is saddened by the situation involving one of our former employees and a young person served by our organization. NYAP has reported the situation to Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) and is collaborating with them and the Columbus Police Department on this case,” the organization said in a statement.
Shires was booked into the Franklin County Jail on October 6 and was given a bond of $500,000. Her next court appearance is set for October 16.
🚨🚨Breaking: Social worker, Payton Shires, 24, who previously worked for The National Youth Advocate Program, has admitted to having sex with her 13 year old client on multiple occasions.
— Will (@WillSaveTheKids) October 8, 2023
Shires has been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. pic.twitter.com/FSgfHpPajl
