Mental Health Counselor Who Pulled an Audacious Act Sentenced to Prison

July 13, 2024 Justin Peters

In a scandalous betrayal of trust, an Ohio mental health counselor now faces years behind bars after using her role as a social worker to repeatedly sexually abuse a vulnerable 13-year-old boy, a child she was meant to be counseling for mental health.

In a courtroom drama in May, 24-year-old Payton Harleigh Shires confessed to her crimes, pleading guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, one count of inducing panic with a firearm and one count of intimidating a witness or victim.

The courtroom was rife with emotion as statements were read. Judge Mark Serrott of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas acknowledged that Shires’ expressed remorse but didn’t spare her a stern rebuke for the heinous breach of trust. “He was a child,” Serrott reminded her, adding that “he was trying to get the help he needed.”

The boy’s mother delivered a piercing statement, her voice trembling with anguish and anger. She condemned Shires for shattering their faith in a system meant to protect the vulnerable. “Instead, he was manipulated, groomed and sexually abused by Ms. Shires,” she said, her words cutting through the courtroom. “I regret I ever let you in my house.”

WHEN IT ALL BEGAN

Authorities arrested Shires on her birthday in October 2023, a mere four months after obtaining her social worker license, a symbol of her supposed dedication to aiding the vulnerable. Swiftly, the National Youth Advocate Program recognized her potential and brought her into their fold. But by the end of September, it all began to fall apart for her.

The Columbus Police Department received a harrowing report: Shires had allegedly confessed her unspeakable actions during a clandestine phone call with the boy’s mother, unknown to her that officers were listening intently.

The boy’s mother revealed text messages between Shires and her son to the police. “Has your mother seen the videos or messages?” Shires had asked, her words dripping with dread. “Have they been deleted?” she asked further.

However, nothing had been erased. Forensic experts further delved into the boy’s cellphone, uncovering a trove of damning evidence—messages and a video depicting the abhorrent acts between child and adult.

Shires got out on a whopping $500,000 bond, but consumed by desperation and rage, she appeared at the victim’s home brandishing a gun. Her voice cracked with fury and despair as she accused the boy’s mother of “ruining her life.” Threats of murder and suicide hung in the air, a violation of her pretrial release.

In court, Shires, a figure of remorse and regret stood before the victim’s mother. Her voice quivered as she confessed, “I was not thinking rationally at the time that I showed up to the mother’s house,” she said. “I was extremely suicidal. I never had intentions to harm anybody but myself.”

During the sentenincing on Thursday, judge Serrott recounted Shires argument for leniency when she claimed that the 13-year-old boy with mental health issues tried to coerce or blackmail her into moving forward with their illicit relationship, but the Judge was having none of that.

“You’re the adult,” Serrott said, adding that “You’re trained professionally to avoid situations like this.”

The gavel fell with resounding finality as Judge Serrott sentenced Shires to a potential four years and nine months in state prison, granting her 253 days of credit for pretrial detention. She must also register as a sex offender every 180 days for the next 25 years.

Mental Health Counselor