Crime & Justice
SoHo Karen charged with hate crimes after falsely accusing Black teen of theft
Miya Ponsetto legal troubles have intensified.
Miya Ponsetto’s legal troubles have intensified.
A grand jury indicted Ponsetto on charges of unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and endangering the welfare, according to The New York Post.
The 22-year-old was caught on video accusing Keyon Harrold Jr., 15 — the son of jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold — of swiping her cell phone and then trying to tackle him in the lobby of the Arlo Soho Hotel on Dec. 26.
Ponsetto’s lawyer Paul D’Emilia entered a plea of “not guilty” on her behalf during a video arraignment.
Her case isn’t eligibility for bail. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Sarah Marquez asked that the judge continue the “highest level of supervised release” for Ponsetto.
D’Emilia blasted the indictment as “opportunistic” for Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance following the arraignment.
“Instead of helping to foster a civil and enlightened resolution to an unfortunate incident between two young people, DA Vance chose a craven and opportunistic path in indicting, with felony hate crime charges, Ms. Miya Ponsetto,” D’Emilia said in the statement.
“The charges alleged are a brazen and clear overreach of the intent of the statute. In sum, they are absurd, and a perversion of our legal system.”
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Laura Ward set Ponsetto’s next court date for Oct. 20, while warning that Ponsetto would likely have to appear in person in the future.
The Harrold family also filed a civil lawsuit against Ponsetto and the hotel back in May.
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Want to tell your story, send a news tip or report a correction? Contact us at [email protected]
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, News Break
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine®
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoFamily of Daniel Erving calls for murder charges after evidence‑tampering arrests in teen’s drowning death
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoNAACP calls for federal investigation and suspension of Memphis task force after deaths of two Black men in Tennessee
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoBeloved basketball star Kinu Rochford killed in Harlem tournament shooting
-
Health & Wellness2 weeks agoFormer NFL player Dr. Myron Rolle joins NFLPA as strategic advisor for player brain health and safety
-
Music1 week agoWoody Shaw’s Avant‑Garde ‘Song of Songs’ returns to vinyl after 50 years through Jazz Dispensary’s Top Shelf Series
-
Social Justice6 days agoNolan Wells’ mom says she’s receiving hate mail after 18-year-old son’s death
-
In Memoriam1 week agoHal Williams, veteran actor known for ‘227’ and ‘Sanford and Son,’ dies at 91
-
Community2 weeks agoKansas City’s Copper Boyz Ranch provides youth violence‑prevention through horsemanship




