Payton Shires, a former youth counselor, has pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual misconduct with a juvenile and intimidating a witness or victim. She will be sentenced on June 27 to over twenty years in prison and must register as a sexual offender for 25 years.
Shires worked as a counselor for the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) in Madison County. In September, the victim's mother discovered suspicious text conversations on her son's phone, which she believed indicated an improper relationship between her and Shires. The Columbus police forensically examined the boy's phone and found further text messages and a video of Shires and the youngster having a sexual encounter.
The inquiry uncovered claimed nonspecific sexual contacts between Shires and the youngster at least twice in Columbus. Shires confessed to the crime during a controlled three-way phone conversation with the victim's mother and police.
After his October arrest, Shires was able to post $500,000 bail and get his freedom. However, she violated her release terms by going to the victim's house armed while she was out on bail.
Shires worked as a counselor for the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) in Madison County. In September, the victim's mother discovered suspicious text conversations on her son's phone, which she believed indicated an improper relationship between her and Shires. The Columbus police forensically examined the boy's phone and found further text messages and a video of Shires and the youngster having a sexual encounter.
The inquiry uncovered claimed nonspecific sexual contacts between Shires and the youngster at least twice in Columbus. Shires confessed to the crime during a controlled three-way phone conversation with the victim's mother and police.
After his October arrest, Shires was able to post $500,000 bail and get his freedom. However, she violated her release terms by going to the victim's house armed while she was out on bail.
