A California woman who accused a black teenager of stealing a phone at a Manhattan hotel in December 2020 has pleaded guilty to unlawful second degree deprivation of liberty as a hate crime.
Mia Ponzeto, 23, became known as “Soho Karen”. He was caught on camera accusing 14-year-old Cayen Harold Jr. who stole his phone in the lobby of New York’s Arlo Soho Hotel.
In the video, which went viral, it appears that he is trying to catch a teenager trying to leave a hotel.
The teenager’s father, jazz musician Kayon Harold, accused Ponzeto of racial profiling. Apparently his missing phone was found on Uber and the driver returned it.
In a CBS interview after the incident, Ponzeto admitted that the situation should have been addressed differently: “You may not have shouted it that way and he didn’t feel, you know, maybe something less, he felt myself. In addition to hurting his feelings “.
blow He has already been given a suspended sentence for a separate California case. The terms of his guilty plea on Monday allow him to extend his probationary period and consultation.
If he can prevent further interaction with the criminal justice system and comply with the terms of the agreement, Ponzeto may renew For a small offense. Otherwise, prosecutors say, he faces up to four years in prison.
Source: Huffpost
