Miya Ponsetto, dubbed online as the “SoHo Karen” was indicted on several charges on Wednesday (June 30) in connection with the infamous incident in which she falsely accused a Black teen of stealing her cell phone last December.
According to TMZ, Ponsetto has been charged with two felony counts of unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime as well as two misdemeanor counts of aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.
Paul D’Emilia, Ponsetto’s attorney, pleaded not guilty on the 22-year-old’s behalf in court. The lawyer called out Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance in a statement to TMZ saying, “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.”
Ponsetto was seen in a viral video attacking 14-year-old Keyon Harold Jr. at the Arlo Hotel in NYC after she accused him of stealing her cellphone. The teen’s father, Keyon Harold Sr. was there at the time of the incident, something the family’s legal team is thankful for.
In an interview with Gayle King, Ponsetto denied racially profiling the teen.
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