Amy Ware is accused of lying to police and failing to report child abuse allegedly committed by one of her employees.

SCRANTON, Pa. — Amy Ware had nothing to say walking out of Central Court in Lackawanna County Monday morning.

The co-owner of a now shut-down daycare in West Scranton faces a felony charge, accused of not reporting the abuse of a child, allegedly at the hands of one of her employees.

“You know, it’s unfortunate. The parents of over 100 kids trusted Ms. Ware to create a safe environment, which, it turns out, she was not doing,” said Lackawanna County Deputy District Attorney Bo Loughney.

He says Ware lied to police when she was interviewed about the abuse at Learn and Grow Early Childhood Daycare Center back in September.

Court paperwork says Scranton police spoke with an employee who reported a staff member after she pulled the hair of a 1-year-old baby.

When that employee reported the incident, Ware and co-owner Erin Pallo reviewed security footage that allegedly showed the staff member spanking and hitting the baby on the head with a bottle, pulling his hair, and throwing him on the ground.

Investigators say Ware told staff members the issue was reported to the state after it happened in April.

On September 30, five months later, police confirmed a report was never made.

“There’s an ongoing investigation into both that individual and other possible individuals within the daycare itself,” said  Loughney. “So this is the first arrest, but there is a probability that there will be more arrests made in the coming days.”

Ware was released on $50,000 bail. She is expected back in court later this month.

“This is our job to protect. I mean, these kids are from anywhere from 12 weeks to 4 years old. They are literally the most precious aspect of our society. They are defenseless. They’re helpless. And, you know, we have to hold people accountable that are actively either condoning abuse, covering up abuse, or allowing it to happen,” said Loughney.

The district attorney’s office says Learn and Grow Early Childhood Day Care Center’s license was revoked and is shut down until further notice.