CANFIELD — A Leetonia woman once again finds herself in legal trouble due to her actions with a child.

Delaynie Ann Meade, of Walnut Street, must appear in court next month on a disorderly conduct stemming from her actions while serving as an employee at A Step Ahead Day Care on 50 Lisbon St. in Canfield.

A former colleague of Meade had filed a complaint on June 30 with Canfield police after walking out following Meade allegedly repeatedly slapping on the behind a small child who was reluctant to take a nap.

After reporting Meade’s actions to a supervisor, the witness, who had only been employed there for a few weeks, walked out and never returned.

The supervisor acknowledged Meade telling him about the co-worker’s exit but not the incident in question that triggered it.

After her former co-worker initially contacted police, the woman was urged to notify Children Protective Services and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Meade resigned July 1.

After reviewing video evidence captured by the witness and her complaint, prosecutors charged Meade with disorderly conduct.

During the two-week investigation before filing the lesser charge, other guardians came forward and made similar complaints.

Authorities settled on the minor misdemeanor, as they believed that it didn’t rise to the level of child abuse.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is a $150 fine with no possibility of jail time.

Meade, who was mailed a summons and copy of the complaint, is set to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, before Judge Molly Johnson in Mahoning County Court No. 5 in Canfield.

Meade had been convicted of a reduced charge of disorderly conduct in 2024, after she dropped her 5-year-old daughter off at Leetonia Public Library without an accompanying adult as required with a child of that age and left the premises for 90 minutes.

In that Columbiana County case, Meade originally had faced an endangering children charge and was fined $250, ordered to complete 20 community service hours and a parenting class as well as serve 30 days in jail, 29 suspended.