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What is Payton Shires Instagram? Columbus Ohio social worker accused of sexual conduct with 13-year-old

Published

10 months ago

February 23, 2024

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There have been several requests for Payton Shires Instagram after she was accused of sexual conduct with a 13-year-old client.

Payton Shires, 24, of Madison County’s Mount Sterling, has been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. She was arrested on Friday and appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court on Saturday morning, where Judge Mike McAllister set a $500,000 bond.

Shires had previously worked for the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), which has offices on South High Street in the Brewery District, according to Columbus police. The NYAP assists in the provision of counseling and social work to families who are involved in the foster care system or require advocacy in other ways.

According to court records, a woman called police on Sept. 27 after discovering text messages between her 13-year-old son and Shires on his cellphone. According to the woman, “something inappropriate was happening between her son and Ms. Shires after seeing messages asking if he had deleted the videos and asking if his mom had seen the videos or messages.”

The teen’s cellphone was turned over to police, and it was forensically examined.

According to court documents, police discovered a video on the teen’s phone of him and Shires engaging in sexual activity. Detectives reportedly spoke with the teen, who admitted to having sex with Shires on multiple occasions in September 2023 at various locations in Columbus.

Police conducted a controlled, recorded three-way phone call between the teen’s mother and Shires on Thursday. According to court records, Shires admitted to the teen’s mother during that call that she had engaged in sexual conduct with him.

“We have a nonnegotiable commitment to do what is best for children, youth, and their families and have an abiding faith that every person has an innate ability to learn, grow and develop,” the NYAP says on its website.

“We provide opportunities and resources to youth and families through our innovative programs and services, and we strongly support and offer guidance to our dedicated foster parents.”