Former Ohio teacher charged after missing teen found at his home 263 days later: reports

A former Ohio teacher has been charged after authorities alleged he knowingly allowed a missing underage teen girl to stay at his home despite being aware she had been reported missing.

Jobe Binkley, 48, of Springfield, Ohio, has been charged with one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.

The girl had been missing for 263 days after running away from a youth shelter in Columbus on Dec. 2, 2025, WSYX and The New York Post reported.

The outlets reported Binkley was the girl's former high school science teacher.

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According to the complaint, Binkley "did knowingly allow the child victim to stay in his home while having knowledge of the victim being an active missing juvenile."

A probable cause affidavit states that on Aug. 21, an officer working as an agent of the U. S. Marshal's Office went to Binkley's Springfield home after investigators identified it as the girl's last known location.

According to the affidavit, Binkley told the officer the teen was inside the residence and called for her to come outside, which she did.

"He spoke with the resident owner, Jobe Binkley, who stated the juvenile was inside. He called for the juvenile, and they exited the home," the affidavit states.

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Investigators also alleged officers had gone to Binkley's home on two earlier occasions while searching for the missing girl.

During those visits, Binkley allegedly refused to let officers inside and told them the juvenile was not there.

"Officers had been to Mr. Binkley's house on two previous occasions where the juvenile was entered missing," the affidavit states. 

"At those times he refused officers to enter his home and stated that the missing person was not inside. Officers noted that Jobe was made aware the individual was in fact an active missing person."

According to The New York Post, Binkley was placed on administrative leave from Springfield City Schools in November 2024 and again in January 2025 before he was fired the following month.

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Chelsi Warner, the mother of the victim's half-sister, alleged to the New York Post that Binkley began grooming the teen after they met at school.

"She’s had a troubled history with her mother and this groomer took advantage of a girl looking for a parental figure," Warner said.

Court records show Binkley has pleaded not guilty to the charge.  A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 30, according to court records.

The Springfield Police Department and Springfield City Schools could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

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