A Southern California woman who falsely accused a Black teen of stealing her cell phone at a hotel in New York pleaded guilty on Monday.
Miya Ponsetto, a 23-year-old from Ventura County, pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime after she accused Keyon Harrold Jr. of stealing her cell phone, and then attacked him at the Arlo Soho Hotel in December 2020.
Ponsetto was caught on video accusing the teen, who is the son of jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold, before trying to tackle him in the hotel lobby Dec. 26.Keyon Harrold, a jazz musician, says a woman falsely accused his son, who is Black, of stealing her iPhone in a New York City hotel. For the next two years, Ponsetto must abide by the terms of her probation in a separate case in California and then she can plead down to a misdemeanor. Otherwise she faces up to four years in prison.
"Ms. Ponsetto displayed outrageous behavior. As a Black man, I have personally experienced racial profiling countless times in my life and I sympathize with the young man victimized in this incident. This plea ensures appropriate accountability for Ms. Ponsetto by addressing underlying causes for her behavior and ensuring this conduct does not reoccur," said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.
According to Bragg, if Ponsetto successfully follows these terms, she can replead to her other charge of aggravated harassment in the second degree.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SoCal woman who falsely accused Black teen at NY hotel pleads guilty to hate crime chargeMiya Ponsetto pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime after she accused a Black teen of stealing her cell phone.
Read more »
SoCal woman who falsely accused Black teen at NY hotel pleads guilty to hate crime chargeBREAKING NEWS: Miya Ponsetto, the SoCal woman who falsely accused a Black teen of stealing her cell phone at a hotel in New York, pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime.
Read more »
Mikaela Mayer shakes off adversity to defeat Jennifer Han in SoCal homecomingThe Woodland Hills native returned home for her first boxing match in Southern California in four years.
Read more »
White Woman in Alleged Racist NYC Hotel Confrontation With Black Teen Offered Plea DealNEW: Maya Ponsetto pleaded guilty to a felony hate crime charge, the top count she faced, for wrongly accusing a teenage son of a noted jazz musician of taking her phone and lunging at him at a SoHo Hotel in Dec. 2020
Read more »
Woman who falsely accused Black teen of stealing her phone at NYC hotel makes plea dealMiya Ponsetto, also known as 'SoHo Karen, caught on camera attacking a Black teenager in a New York City hotel lobby after accusing him of stealing her cellphone agreed to a guilty plea deal to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime.
Read more »
Plea deal: No prison for attack on Black teen at NYC hotel - New York Amsterdam NewsA California woman who wrongly accused a Black teen of taking her phone at a New York City hotel, grabbing at him as he tried to leave, has reached a plea deal that spares her from prison if she avoids trouble.
Read more »