Miya Ponsetto charged with multiple feonies

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A California woman who attacked and falsely accused a Black teenager of stealing her cell phone has been charged with multiple felony counts.

Miya Ponsetto was charged in Manhattan Saturday (Jan. 9) with two counts of attempted assault, attempted robbery, grand larceny and endangering the welfare of a child.

Ponsetto, 22, was arrested in her hometown of Piru, California, on Thursday (Jan. 7), after fleeing the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department as they tried to make a traffic stop on a fugitive warrant for her arrest, authorities said. Once she stopped in front of a home, she put up a fight and resisted arrest, according to authorities.

During a virtual court appearance on Friday (Jan. 8), she agreed to be extradited to New York.

Ponsetto is on supervised release and must not contact the victims.

The charges stem from a Dec. 26 incident at the Arlo SoHo Hotel in New York City. Keyon Harrold, a Grammy-winning trumpet player, was staying there with his 14-year-old son when he said Ponsetto approached his son in the lobby and accused him of stealing her iPhone. Harrold recorded part of the encounter on his phone and shared the video on social media.

In the video, Ponsetto could be seen yelling at the teen and lunging at him. Harrold’s son could also be heard denying that he stole the phone.

Ponsetto’s phone was ultimately found by an Uber driver and was returned to her.

In an interview with “CBS This Morning”, Ponsetto apologized for her actions.

“I don’t feel that that is who I am as a person. I don’t feel like this one mistake does define me,” she said during the interview, which was filmed Thursday before her arrest. “But I do sincerely from the bottom of my heart apologize that if I made the son feel as if I assaulted him or if I hurt his feelings or the father’s feelings.”

In an interview Friday with “Good Morning America,” Harrold Jr.’s parents said they were grateful for Ponsetto’s arrest this week.

“She should have been arrested a long time ago, but I am grateful that she is arrested,” his mom said.

Ponsetto’s next court date is scheduled for March 29.