A former Ohio teacher has been charged after authorities alleged he knowingly allowed a missing teenage girl to stay at his Springfield, Ohio, home. The girl was found on Aug. 21, 2026, after being missing for 263 days. Jobe Binkley, 48, faces one misdemeanor count of interference with custody and has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30.
According to a criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit, investigators said Binkley knew the girl had been reported missing but allowed her to remain in his home. The allegations have not been proven in court.
| 1) | The missing teen’s disappearance |
| 2) | The investigation at the Springfield home |
| 3) | The charge and court proceedings |
| 4) | Binkley’s employment history and related allegations |
| 5) | What happens next |
The missing teen’s disappearance
The girl was reported missing after she ran away from a youth shelter in Columbus on Dec. 2, 2025. Investigators said she remained missing for 263 days before authorities located her at Binkley’s residence in Springfield. Reports identified Binkley as the girl’s former high school science teacher, although authorities have not announced a criminal charge involving an alleged relationship between them.
The circumstances of the girl’s stay at the home were central to the custody-interference allegation. Authorities contend Binkley knew she was an active missing juvenile and nevertheless permitted her to remain at the residence.
The investigation at the Springfield home
On Aug. 21, an officer working as an agent of the U.S. Marshals Service went to Binkley’s Springfield home after investigators identified it as the teen’s last known location. The affidavit states that Binkley told the officer the juvenile was inside and called for her to come outside. She then exited the home.
“He spoke with the resident owner, Jobe Binkley, who stated the juvenile was inside. He called for the juvenile, and they exited the home.”
Investigators also alleged that officers had visited the residence twice earlier while searching for the girl. According to the affidavit, Binkley refused to let officers enter and said the missing juvenile was not inside. Officers reportedly informed him that she was an active missing person.
The charge and court proceedings
Binkley was charged with one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor under the complaint. The offense carries a potential penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Court records show that Binkley pleaded not guilty. The case is pending in Clark County Municipal Court in Springfield, where he is expected to appear for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 30. A criminal complaint represents an allegation, and Binkley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Binkley’s employment history and related allegations
Binkley was a teacher with Springfield City Schools before his employment ended in February 2025, according to court reporting. He had previously been placed on administrative leave in November 2024 and again in January 2025.
Chelsi Warner, the mother of the missing girl’s half-sister, alleged that Binkley began grooming the teen after they met at school. Warner said the girl had experienced difficulties at home and that an adult seeking to serve as a parental figure took advantage of her vulnerability. Those claims were reported as allegations and have not been established in court.
What happens next
The next scheduled step is Binkley’s Sept. 30 pretrial hearing. Prosecutors will pursue the misdemeanor case based on the allegation that he knowingly allowed a reported missing juvenile to stay at his home and allegedly denied her presence during earlier police visits.
The teen’s discovery ended the 263-day missing-person search, but the court proceedings will determine whether the evidence supports the custody-interference charge. Police and school officials had not immediately provided additional public comment in the available report.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The teen was found at a Springfield home after being missing for 263 days. |
| 2 | Former teacher Jobe Binkley faces a first-degree misdemeanor charge. |
| 3 | Binkley pleaded not guilty, and a pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 30. |
| 4 | Authorities allege he knew the girl was an active missing juvenile. |
Summary
Authorities allege that Jobe Binkley knowingly allowed a missing teen to stay at his Springfield home and denied her presence during two earlier visits by officers. The teen was located on Aug. 21 after disappearing from a Columbus youth shelter in December 2025. Binkley has pleaded not guilty to interference with custody, and the case will proceed at a Sept. 30 pretrial hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charge does Jobe Binkley face?
Binkley faces one count of interference with custody, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
When was the missing teen found?
Authorities found the teen at Binkley’s Springfield home on Aug. 21, 2026, after she had been missing for 263 days.
What is the next court date?
Binkley’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30 in Clark County Municipal Court in Springfield, Ohio.
