Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the indictment of HANSEL ESPARRAGOZA, 37, for punching an 81-year-old woman in the face while she was walking her son’s dog in an unprovoked attack on the Upper West Side. ESPARRAGOZA is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Assault in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the Third Degree. [1]
“As alleged, Hansel Esparragoza punched an 81-year-old woman in the face in an unprovoked attack, causing her to lose consciousness and fall to the ground,” said District Attorney Bragg. “New Yorkers deserve to be safe when they are going about their daily lives walking through their neighborhoods, and we will continue to prosecute those who threaten their safety. I hope the victim continues to heal from this assault.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, on September 13, 2024, at approximately 7:09 p.m., an 81-year-old woman took her son’s dog out for a walk in her neighborhood.
After ESPARRAGOZA walked by the woman, who was stopped on the sidewalk of 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, he turned around and approached her from behind, punching her in the face with so much force that she lost consciousness immediately. The victim fell to the ground and as she fell, she hit her face on the building’s exterior wall.
ESPARRAGOZA continued walking down the street after the assault. Bystanders called the police while the victim lay motionless on the sidewalk. Police officers arrived and took the woman to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital where she was treated for a fractured nose and concussion. The victim has complete amnesia regarding the incident.
ESPARRAGOZA was apprehended in a Staten Island deli after the employee recognized the defendant from news articles reporting the incident.
Assistant D.A. Hunter Carrell (Trial Bureau 70) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. David Hammer (Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 70) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Nicholas Caniglia of the 20th Precinct Detective Squad.
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
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