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‘SoHo Karen,’ who falsely accused Black teen, previously arrested with mom in different hotel disturbance

Miya Ponsetto was arrested for assaulting an officer and public intoxication in February.

Photo of Mikael Thalen

Mikael Thalen

A woman known as 'Soho' Karen

Miya Ponsetto, the 22-year-old woman dubbed “SoHo Karen” after falsely accusing a Black teen of stealing her cellphone in December, was actually arrested in a separate hotel disturbance in early 2020.

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As reported by TMZ on Friday, Ponsetto was arrested alongside her mother Nicole in February after causing a scene at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Citing sources in law enforcement, TMZ stated that the pair appeared intoxicated and refused requests by hotel staff to vacate the premises.

After police arrived at the hotel, Ponsetto allegedly shoved and kicked one of the officers and was subsequently arrested for battery and public intoxication. Nicole was also arrested for being drunk in public.

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The mother-daughter duo were officially charged by the L.A. County District Attorney on May 27. Incredibly, Ponsetto was arrested again just one day later for drunk driving.

Ponsetto ultimately pled no contest and was sentenced to three years probation, 30 hours of community service, and ordered to take part in a nine-month substance abuse counseling program.

The alleged incidents show that Ponsetto appears to have a clear history of outlandish behavior.

Authorities in New York, where Ponsetto falsely accused the 14-year-old of stealing her phone, are considering filing charges over the incident and have been attempting to locate the woman.

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Footage of the incident in New York, in which Ponsetto can be seen lunging at the Black teen, stirred outrage online. The NYPD later released a video showing Ponsetto attacking the teen from a different angle. In that video, she can clearly be seen tackling him.

Ponsetto later alleged to CNN that she had actually been assaulted during the incident. When asked to provide evidence of the claim, Ponsetto was unable to do so.

In old social media posts uncovered by the Daily Dot this week, Ponsetto admitted to having anger management issues and being “easily annoyed.”


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