An Ohio social worker has allegedly admitted to having sex multiple times with a 13-year-old client who was receiving counseling services, WCMH-TV reports.
On Friday, a SWAT team in Columbus arrested 24-year-old Payton Shires in connection with the allegations. Shires is charged with one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The arrest came after the boy’s mother discovered text messages between her son and Shires, a licensed social worker, and contacted authorities in late September.
Shires allegedly asked the boy whether he had “deleted the videos” and inquired about whether his mother had seen the videos or the text messages, according to court documents obtained by WBNS-TV.
Investigators examined the boy’s phone and found a video showing Shires and the boy having sexual intercourse. The two also allegedly engaged in unspecified sexual encounters at least twice throughout the city, according to WSYX-TV.
During a call with the boy’s mother and police, Shires allegedly confessed to having sex with the boy, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The social worker had been employed previously by the National Youth Advocate Program. The program declined to comment to WSYX-TV about why Shires stopped working there, but it did issue a statement confirming the organization’s cooperation with the police investigation.
“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 group said, according to WSYX-TV.
Records show Shires’ current state license was issued in June and expires in 2025.
Shires was in court on Friday and a judge set her bond at $500,000. She was arraigned on Saturday morning.
Another court date is scheduled for October 16.
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[Feature Photo: Payton Shires/Columbus Police Department]
