On Tuesday, Yehia Amin from New York received a 90-day jail sentence for stalking Jewish individuals wearing kippahs in Times Square, and for assaulting an Israeli tourist shortly after the events of October 7. Observers noted that Amin smiled and appeared to make a “victory sign” during the proceedings.
Amin had pleaded guilty in March to a third-degree assault, classified as a hate crime, as part of a plea deal with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. He was initially facing seven charges related to the attack on October 18, 2023.
Glenn Richter, who leads the New York Jewish Community Judicial Watch Group, commented that Amin was late arriving to court, showing up in the afternoon with his mother after missing the morning session.
Richter described the scene, noting that court staff had to find an Arabic interpreter, which caused delays and pushed the case later into the day.
During sentencing, Judge Althea Drysdale remarked on Amin’s smile, asking him why he appeared cheerful in such a serious situation. Amin replied through the interpreter that he was merely trying to look good for photos.
This response struck Richter as particularly odd considering the gravity of the sentencing. He questioned why Amin would smile while facing incarceration, suggesting that it might have been a smirk of self-satisfaction, given he was ultimately only sentenced to 90 days.
Prosecutors detailed that Amin had followed a 23-year-old Israeli and his friends, all kippah-wearers, in Times Square, while uttering several antisemitic threats. After the group attempted to distance themselves, he reportedly punched the Israeli in the back of the head.
Richter’s group, which has closely monitored Amin’s court appearances, expressed that the plea agreement felt too lenient. One member, Serena Smulansky, criticized the Manhattan DA’s office for its handling of Amin’s case, noting that he had made numerous court appearances with various excuses and seemed unrepentant.
Smulansky recounted an incident where Amin had confrontational behavior toward her in the courthouse, leading her to feel threatened. Despite reporting the incident to the assistant district attorney, she received no follow-up.
She compared Amin’s case to another involving Larry Montes, who faces serious charges for disruptive and violent acts towards a synagogue, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in how defendants are treated based on their backgrounds or circumstances.
Richter also contended that the 90-day sentence was a minimal consequence, emphasizing that plea deals often arise from the constraints of prosecutors’ resources.
On the other hand, Brian Chenensky, another observer at the sentencing, felt that getting any prison time in the current justice climate of New York City was significant, expressing that a 90-day sentence wasn’t just a mere slap on the wrist.
