LINDENHURST, NY -A Massapequa woman who worked as a daycare teacher in Lindenhurst has been indicted on multiple charges after prosecutors say she injured a toddler and endangered another child while supervising young students.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Megan Marchena, 27, was arraigned on charges including Assault in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child following an investigation into incidents that allegedly occurred at a Lindenhurst daycare facility.
Prosecutors allege the most serious incident occurred on February 24, 2025, while Marchena was supervising children under the age of two during naptime. Investigators say she repeatedly attempted to force a 17-month-old child to lie down by pushing the toddler face-first into a cot. Authorities claim the force escalated until the child’s face struck the plastic edge of the cot, causing a severe mouth injury in which the child’s teeth cut through the inside of the mouth.
The toddler was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where the child received stitches, according to investigators. Detectives say the alleged incident was captured on surveillance video inside the daycare, which became a key piece of evidence in the case.
Following Marchena’s arrest on February 28, 2025, police said they began receiving additional calls from parents, daycare staff, and individuals connected to the defendant’s previous workplaces reporting possible inappropriate conduct involving other children.
Investigators say another incident allegedly occurred on January 10, 2025, also during naptime. In that case, Marchena allegedly lifted an 18-month-old child by the torso while the child’s head and legs were dangling, carried him to his cot, and dropped him onto it from standing height.
Marchena was arraigned on March 6, 2026, before Timothy P. Mazzei in New York State Supreme Court. The indictment includes:
- Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felonies)
- One count of Assault in the Third Degree
- Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Justice Mazzei ordered Marchena held on $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond, or a $50,000 partially secured bond while the case proceeds.
If convicted on the most serious charge, she faces up to seven years in prison.
Marchena is scheduled to return to court on March 31, 2026 and is represented by Steve Fondulis, Esq.
Authorities are also asking anyone who believes their child may have been affected to contact the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section at (631) 852-6184.
Key Facts and Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Case | Alleged child abuse at Lindenhurst daycare |
| Defendant | Megan Marchena, 27, of Massapequa, New York |
| Occupation | Daycare teacher responsible for children under age two |
| Location | Daycare facility in Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, NY |
| Primary Incident Date | February 24, 2025 |
| Allegation | Toddler allegedly forced face-first into a cot during naptime |
| Victim Age | 17 months old |
| Injury | Child’s teeth cut through the inside of the mouth |
| Medical Treatment | Victim taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and received stitches |
| Evidence | Incident allegedly captured on daycare surveillance video |
| Arrest Date | February 28, 2025 |
| Additional Allegation | January 10, 2025 incident involving an 18-month-old child allegedly being lifted and dropped onto a cot |
| Charges | Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree; one count of Assault in the Third Degree; two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child |
| Felony Classification | Assault in the Second Degree – Class D violent felonies |
| Arraignment Date | March 6, 2026 |
| Court | New York State Supreme Court, Suffolk County |
| Presiding Judge | Justice Timothy P. Mazzei |
| Bail Conditions | $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond |
| Next Court Date | March 31, 2026 |
| Possible Sentence | Up to 7 years in prison if convicted on the top charge |
| Defense Attorney | Steve Fondulis, Esq. |
| Police Contact | Suffolk County Police Department Special Victims Section – (631) 852-6184 |
