Woman accused black teen of stealing her phone, charged with attempted sexual assault

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Miya Ponsetto, the 22-year-old California woman who tackled a black teenager and accused him of stealing her iPhone in December, was charged in New York on Saturday and charged in criminal court.

Ponsetto is charged with attempted robbery, grand theft, acting in a manner that is harmful to a child and two attempted assault, according to a statement by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. obtained by The Hill.

Judge Michael Frishman granted Ponsetto a supervised release without pecuniary bail. In addition, Grammy-awarded jazz musician Keyon Harrold and his son Keyon Harrold Jr., the 14-year-old victim who attacked Ponsetto, received protection warrants.

Ponsetto was arrested in California on Thursday for her assault on the teen at the Arlo SoHo boutique hotel in New York City on Dec. 26. Video footage of the incident released by police shows Ponsetto accusing Harrold of stealing her missing cell phone and then shooting him and taking him to the floor after telling her she was mistaken.

According to The New York Times, Ponsetto’s phone later ended up at the hotel after an Uber driver returned him.

Ponsetto was transferred to NYPD shortly after her arrest, which she opposed, CBS reported.

Although she has no criminal convictions, Ponsetto has three open cases in California, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said. She will appear in court on March 29, 2021.

After the footage of the meeting went viral, many accused Ponsetto, dubbed the “SoHo Karen”, of racial profiling of Harrold.

On Thursday, Ponsetto’s attorney spoke publicly about the incident, saying the teen’s race was not a motivational factor in her actions.

“That phone could have been in the hands of a 90-year-old grandmother, an Asian person … someone who is black or blue,” attorney Sharen Ghatan said, according to NBC News. Her actions were the result of her “letting her emotions get the best out of her,” as she is “young,” Ghatan added.

Ghatan did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

During a video interview with CBSs Gayle KingGayle KingCBS News President Zirinsky Wins National Press Club Fourth Estate Award The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by UAE – US Records 1 Million COVID-19 Cases in One Week; governors crack Obama said his ‘initial instinct’ during Joe Wilson’s ’09 outburst was to ‘hit this guy on the head’ MORE, Ponsetto apologized for hurting the boy’s feelings, but defended her actions.

“Racism is …” Ponsetto began to say before walking away, adding, “How could a girl accusing a boy of a phone be a crime?”

Ben Crump, the civil rights activist and attorney who defends 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. previously called for a “civil rights investigation” into the incident. Police told CBS News they are not investigating the matter as a biased incident.

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