A small-town Illinois high school is reeling after an athletic trainer was arrested over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student. Christina G. Payton, 27, turned herself in to police this week, nearly two months after the initial report surfaced.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office first received a tip on June 10 about an athletic trainer employed at Indian Creek High School. The case was quickly handed over to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, which took over the investigation.
Payton, of Creston, surrendered on August 5. According to authorities, she faces four felony counts of official misconduct, four felony counts of distribution of harmful material to a minor, and four misdemeanor counts of the same charge.
She was released under the Illinois SAFE-T Act, a 2021 criminal justice reform law that eliminates cash bail for defendants awaiting trial. Her next court appearance is scheduled for August 27 at 9:00 a.m.
“All charges are merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” police said in a statement.
Neither Payton nor the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to requests for comment. As the community waits for the court date, many are left wondering what really happened behind closed doors.
