Ohio social worker surrenders license after sex crimes conviction

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A social worker from Mount Sterling who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with one of her clients has permanently lost the ability to work in the same field.

On July 12, 24-year-old Payton Shires agreed to voluntarily surrender her social work license, according to a document from the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board. The consent agreement referenced her guilty plea from May, and confirmed she admitted to the allegation to board members.

Payton Shires was arrested by a Columbus SWAT team last October after she was accused of having sex with a 13-year-old boy who she was assigned to provide counseling services for. Shires pleaded guilty May 28 to seven of eight charges.

In June, Shires was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for her guilty plea, followed by five years of probation. She is also required to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years.

The board’s executive director signed the agreement with Shires on July 18, although the Ohio disciplined licensees database still marks the action as “in progress.” Shires avoided other disciplinary action from the board in exchange for surrendering her license, but the agreement also permanently barred her from applying for any other license to be a counselor, social worker or therapist.

Shires’ guilty plea included four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of intimidation of a victim or witness and one count of inciting panic. After Shires was first arrested, her intimidation and panic charges came from a visit to the victim’s house, where she threatened to kill the mother and herself, and fired a gun. Going to the home also violated Shires’ $500,000 bond that came from the initial charges of sexual conduct with a minor.

While her criminal trial concluded, a civil suit against her and her former employer, the National Youth Advocate Program, remained active as of Saturday. In this lawsuit, the victim and his mother are going after both for damages for Shires’ actions and for employer negligence.

On July 10, just two days before she gave up her license, Shires’ attorney withdrew from representing her. Shires has not yet appointed a new lawyer, according to court records.

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