Christina Payton: Indian Creek High School Trainer Charged After Report of Inappropriate Relationship With Student

An Illinois high school athletic trainer has been charged with twelve criminal counts as she reportedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student.

According to court documents cited by Shaw Local News Network, 27-year-old Christina G. Payton of Creston surrendered to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on August 5th, almost two months after the police received a report of a trainer engaging in inappropriate activities at Indian Creek High School in Shabbona.

Court records cite the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as stating the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office initially received a report about the alleged trainer misconduct on June 10th. Later, investigators determined that the case would take place in Lee County and, therefore, launched their investigation.

Payton is charged with four counts of official misconduct (a Class 3 felony), four counts of distributing harmful material to a minor (a Class 4 felony), and four misdemeanor counts of distributing harmful material to a minor, as per court documents cited by Shaw Local News Network.

The counts allege that, while employed as the athletic trainer at the school, Payton distributed sexually explicit photos of herself to a student who was 17 years old on April 2, 4, 7, and 11, as per court documents. Of the four counts of distributing harmful material to a minor, four have been elevated to felonies because they claim that she used a cell phone to send the photos. The other four counts are Class A misdemeanor charges since they do not include this information, which State’s Attorney Charley Boonstra says are alternative theories of charging.

Payton has been released in accordance with the Illinois SAFETY (Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity Today) Act, which allows defendants to wait for the trial without posting cash bond under normal circumstances. In Payton’s case, court records list certain conditions of her release, including non-contact with the student or any minors, no travel outside the state, and compliance with probation services.

Payton has retained Rockford attorney Aaron C. Buscemi and is scheduled to appear before Lee County Circuit Judge Jacquelyn D. Ackert at 9 a.mAugust 27th 27th, as per court records.

Willis called the allegations “deeply concerning and disappointing,” Shaw Local reported.

Willis stated that student safety is the district’s highest priority and that the district is fully cooperating with law enforcement, although he could not comment further on personnel issues because the case is active.

Indian Creek High School serves ninth- to twelfth-graders and is one of the three district schools located south of DeKalb.

A part of the district is located in the eastern part of Lee County, according to the district’s website.

Payton attended Rochelle Township High School in 2017, where she played basketball, according to Shaw Local.