On the third visit to a former Ohio teacher’s home, authorities located a teenage girl who hadn’t been seen for about nine months, according to court filings.
Jobe Binkley, 48, is charged with one count of inference with custody in connection with the discovery of the 16-year-old girl at his Springfield residence on August 21, according to court records viewed by Us.
Binkley entered a not guilty plea on Saturday, September 12, a court filing shows.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a police officer working as an agent with the U.S. Marshals Office visited Binkley’s home while investigating the missing teen’s case on August 21, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Binkley’s residence “was the last known address that they were believed to be at,” the filing states.
While speaking with the officer, Binkley allegedly said that the missing girl was inside his house.
“He called for the juvenile and they exited the home,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.
During two prior police visits, Binkley allegedly refused to let officers inside and told them that the missing teenager wasn’t at his house, according to the affidavit.
On both occasions, Binkley was told the girl “was in fact an active missing person,” the affidavit states.
The teen was considered missing for 263 days, according to a police report viewed by WSYX.
She was last seen at the Huckleberry House in Columbus, where she reportedly ran off from in December 2025. The facility supports local youth who’ve run away from home, are considered at-risk, are facing homelessness, or in need of a safe place to stay.
The girl’s family had searched for her for several months before she was allegedly located at Binkley’s home, per WSYX. The TV station reports Binkley was her former high school science teacher.
Us hasn’t been able to independently verify whether Binkley had taught the teen.
He used to be employed by the Springfield City School District until he was fired in February 2025 for allegedly violating a school technology policy, according to Binkley’s personnel file viewed by the TV station. He had been placed on administrative leave a month earlier.
In November 2024, Binkley was separately put on administrative leave in connection with alleged concerns over interactions he had with students. The school district was reportedly unable to substantiate claims against him.
Binkley’s defense attorney didn’t immediately return a request for comment from Us on Monday, September 14.
Binkley has been released on bond, court records show. He’s due in court for a pre-trial hearing set for September 30.
