The California woman accused of a hate crime for allegedly wrongly accusing a black teenager of taking su phone in a Manhattan hotel in December 2020 and grab him as he tried to leave, he was offered a plea deal, the district attorney’s office said Monday.
Miya Ponsetto pleaded not guilty last summer to charges including unlawful imprisonment as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and child endangerment in the incident that unfolded at the Arlo Hotel with 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr.
The video shows her grabbing him as he tried to escape. His phone was found shortly after in an Uber.
Under the agreement unsealed Monday, Ponsetto would have to plead guilty to that hate crime charge, the largest charge against him. He will then be required to lead a “law-abiding life” for the next two years, which includes meeting California probation officers, and continuing to receive counseling.
If successful, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it would agree to her dropping her guilty plea to the felony charge in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree aggravated stalking, which is a felony. less. She also would not be subject to any additional jail time, according to the agreement.
It was not immediately clear if Ponsetto or his lawyers are considering the deal. His case has been adjourned until mid-April.
The Piru woman was arrested in January 2021 on other charges related to the confrontation involving Harrold Jr. She initially appeared to apologize, but then backed down in a tense interview on a CBS morning news show.
The teen’s family previously filed a lawsuit against Ponsetto and the hotel, alleging racial discrimination. He alleged that Ponsetto “violently accosted” him and that the hotel manager, Chad Nathan, helped her and demanded that the teen hand over her phone for inspection. The status of the lawsuit was not immediately clear Monday.
The hotel has since apologized to the teen and his father, a noted jazz musician, for the “unforgivable experience” they endured.
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