Authorities say that Miya ,”SoHo Karen”, Ponsetto, 23, committed a hate crime. Now, a plea deal will keep her from going to jail.
In 2020, Ponsetto went viral after attacking 14-year-old, Kenyon Harrold Jr. She believed that the teen had stolen her iPhone and had confronted him in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in SoHo.
“Ms. Ponsetto displayed outrageous behavior. As a black man, I have personally experienced racial profiling countless times in my life. I sympathize with the young man victimized in this incident…,” stated Alvin Bragg, the DA.
As a part of her plea deal, Ponsetto will have to be the perfect citizen for two years. She pleaded guilty to a hate crime and will undergo therapy and abide by the guidelines of her probation as she resides in California.
If Ponsetto avoids being in trouble for two years, her guilty plea of a felony will be taken back. Then, she will be able to plead again to aggravated harassment in the second degree. That is a misdemeanor.
However, if Ponsetto finds herself in trouble with law within this time, she could get a 4-year sentence in prison.
Ponsetto had previously stated that she didn’t racially profile Keyon, but she did confess to wrongly accusing him. She had actually left her phone in an Uber.
The teen’s family has filed a lawsuit against Ponsetto and the hotel, alleging racial profiling.
