By Raul Castillo
29 Oct 2023, 9:40 PM EDT
Payton Shires, a 24-year-old social worker from Ohio, is currently in custody facing additional charges of witness intimidation after being accused of having sexual relations with a 13-year-old boy.
According to court records, Shires appeared before a judge last week and was read the new charges related to witness intimidation. According to Fox News, this was reported by the ABC WSYX radio network in Columbus.
The arrest warrant was issued on October 26, and Shires was arraigned in court on October 28.
During the hearing, prosecutors reported that Shires showed up at the 13-year-old boy’s home carrying a gun and made threats of suicide, blaming the boy’s family for what he considers the ruin of his life.
Appearance
The case was sparked when the boy’s mother discovered suspicious text messages on her son’s cell phone and called police on September 27.
Following an investigation, a video was found implicating Shires and the teen in sexual conduct, and the teen confirmed having had sexual relations with Shires on several occasions during the month of September at different locations in Columbus.
A key twist in the case occurred when police arranged a controlled and recorded phone call between the teen’s mother and the defendant. During this conversation, Shires admitted to her involvement in acts of sexual conduct with the minor, further bolstering the allegations against her.
Initially, Payton Shires was arrested for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and her bail was set at $500,000, according to Fox News.
However, due to the new witness intimidation charges, his bail has been revoked, and he is expected to remain in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for November 6.
Shires, who previously worked at the National Youth Advocacy Program (NYAP), an organization that provides counseling, social work and advocacy to families involved in the foster care system, faces a complex legal process that continues to raise concerns in community.
The NYAP had issued a statement expressing its sadness over the incident and its commitment to collaborating with the authorities in the investigation. “Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility,” they indicated.
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