Christian G. Payton has been handed charges including four felony counts of official misconduct after she allegedly sent explicit images to a 17-year-old student at Indian Creek High School in Illinois
A sports teacher has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a pupil.
Christian G. Payton, 27, handed herself over to authorities on Wednesday (August 5) after cops discovered allegations of an athletic trainer sending explicit images to a student. Payton was working at Indian Creek High School in Illinois at the time of the alleged offences.
She has now been charged with four felony counts of official misconduct and four felony counts of distributing harmful material to a minor. Additionally, Payton faces four misdemeanour counts of distributing harmful material to a minor.
The charges allege that she sent sexually explicit images of herself to a 17 year old student while serving as an athletic trainer, according to court documents. She is alleged to have sent the images on April 2, 4, 7 and 11.
Payton was released under the Illinois SAFE-T Act, a 2021 criminal justice reform law that abolished cash bail for defendants awaiting trial.
Under the conditions of her release, she is forbidden from contacting the alleged victim or anyone under the age of 18.
She has also been instructed not to leave Illinois and must report to the court’s probation department.
In a statement, Indian Creek School District Superintendent Chad Willis described the allegations as “deeply concerning and disappointing”.
He told a local publication: “The safety and well-being of our students is and always will be our highest priority. Indian Creek School District is cooperating fully with law enforcement and the appropriate authorities as they conduct their investigation.”
Payton attended Rochelle Township High School and graduated in 2017. Payton is due to appear in court on August 27.