A fire department officer in suburban Dayton said he was only kidding around when he spanked a female firefighter on her birthday.
But a judge disagreed, calling it a crime.Edward A. Lovett, 38, was found guilty of disorderly conduct and fined $100 Friday.
Lovett admitted in court that he asked Amy Danielle Lucas, 20, "if she had been a good girl" and gave her a "birthday swat" June 17 at a fire station in Washington Township, a Dayton suburb.
Lovett testified the encounter was typical of horseplay that went on at the firehouse. He also said Lucas had "kicked me in the butt and leg" on previous occasions, all in fun.
Lucas testified she was frightened when Lovett pulled her onto a couch and spanked her.
"Anybody who thinks they can take a subordinate female in a government position over their knee and spank her just doesn't get it," said prosecutor John Blake.
Township officials hit Lovett with a 30-day suspension and demoted him from captain to lieutenant.