A Burien woman has been charged with three counts of second-degree assault of a child involving domestic violence after King County prosecutors alleged she subjected a 7-year-old boy to a prolonged pattern of physical and psychological abuse.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) on June 12 charged Renee Diane Leon in King County Superior Court with three felony counts stemming from alleged conduct involving the child between July 2024 and June 5, 2026.

Prosecutors allege the abuse occurred over an extended period while the child lived in Leon’s home in Burien. She previously ran a daycare center in Normandy Park called “Auntie’s Playhouse.”

According to charging documents, prosecutors allege Leon intentionally assaulted the child on multiple occasions, causing injuries greater than transient pain or minor temporary marks. One count alleges Leon administered or caused the child to take a poison or other destructive or noxious substance. A third count alleges she recklessly inflicted substantial bodily harm.

Prosecutors also filed aggravating circumstance allegations, claiming the offenses involved deliberate cruelty and were part of an ongoing pattern of psychological and physical abuse over a prolonged period.

The case began after reports from staff at Hazel Valley Elementary School in Burien and a Child Protective Services investigation, according to a probable cause certification prepared by King County Sheriff’s Office Detective Emily Stephens. Court documents state school staff observed significant injuries to the child’s hands and reported disclosures made by the student regarding punishments at home.

According to court records, the child was taken into protective custody on June 5 and transported to Seattle Children’s Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Prosecutors said investigators observed injuries to the child’s hands and that the child reported various forms of punishment.

In a filing seeking bail and release conditions, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mylla Dawson wrote that additional evidence included photographs of a small sleeping area the child allegedly was required to use and an email from the child’s school noting injuries that caused “significant pain” and limited use of his hands.

The state requested bail remain at $150,000. Prosecutors also asked the court to impose electronic home monitoring, a domestic violence protection order protecting the child, surrender of weapons, and no contact with minors, including Leon’s children.

Court filings indicate investigators are continuing to conduct interviews involving other children in the household. Prosecutors wrote that safety interviews and forensic interviews were still underway at the time of the filing.

Leon’s first appearance in King County District Court was Friday, June 12, where bail was set at $150,000, according to prosecutors.

Defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.