Woman Accused Of Black Teen Attack In NYC Hotel Denies Hate Crime

NEW YORK CITY — A California woman accused of assaulting a Black teen she thought had stolen her phone at the Arlo SoHo Hotel last December pleaded not guilty to unlawful imprisonment as a hate charge at a virtual Supreme Court arraignment Wednesday.

Miya Ponsetto, 22, is also being charged with aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Ponsetto was a guest at the Hudson Street hotel when she accosted Keyon Harrold Jr., 14 years old at the time, and his father, Keyon Harrold on Dec. 26, 2020, according to the charges.

Harrold's cellphone and hotel security camera footage show Ponsetto accusing Harrold Jr. of stealing her cellphone. Ponsetto is accused of physically tackling the boy to the ground after the son and father repeatedly tell Ponsetto they are not in possession of her property.

Shortly after the incident, it was revealed that Ponsetto had left her cellphone in an Uber, whose driver returned it to her.

Ponsetto's case was adjourned to October 20, 2021.

Related

• SoHo Hotel Confrontation: NYPD Detectives Head To California To Question Miya Ponsetto, Who Accused Black Teen Of Stealing Phone
• Woman Who Accused Black Teen Of Stealing Phone Arrested
• Woman Hedges Apology In Tense Interview On Hotel Attack
• Lawsuit Alleges Racial Profiling In Cellphone Confrontation