Partner of Social Worker Accused of engaging in Sexual Activity With a Teenager Was Incarcerated For Child Endangerment

A 24-year-old Ohio social worker, Payton Shires, accused of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with a 13-year-old boy under her care, is currently engaged to Nicholas Rafter, a 27-year-old plumber with a troubled past. 

Rafter, previously convicted of child endangerment and facing charges related to the alleged assault of a 14-year-old girl, spent nearly five years in jail.

During his youth, Rafter was accused of drugging and assaulting the girl, leading to charges of rape, sexual battery, and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. 

However, the charges were later dropped after he pleaded guilty to child endangerment. Following almost five years behind bars, he was released in August 2017, placed under intensive supervision parole for five years, and subjected to random drug screenings until July 2022.

Rafter, who began dating Shires three years after his release, faced a turbulent past but has since kept a low profile near his Columbus home. Shires, on the other hand, has expressed support for the death penalty for pedophiles on social media.

Despite her public life on social media, showcasing her 1-year-old son and fiancé, Shires recently faced legal troubles. 

Accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior with the teenage boy, she later arrived at his home with a gun, triggering a concerning situation captured on a doorbell camera. The boy's mother called the police, reporting Shires' threats and suicidal intentions.

In the aftermath of the incident, Shires now faces charges of intimidation of a crime victim and intimidation of a crime witness. 

The boy admitted to engaging in sexual activities with Shires on multiple occasions in September. Shires, formerly associated with the National Youth Advocate Program, specializing in foster care system support, is under investigation, and it remains unclear if her connection with the boy originated from her professional role.

 

[SOURCE]