Press Releases
03/18/2021
Upgraded Charges Filed Against New Fairfield Woman In Connection with Incident at State Capitol
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford State’s Attorney, announced today that upgraded criminal charges have been filed against a New Fairfield woman in connection with an incident that occurred at the State Capitol on January 6, 2021.
An information was officially filed in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. 14, on March 17, 2021 charging Yuliya Gilshteyn, age 44, of Meadowbrook Road, New Fairfield, with Deprivation of Rights (Hate Crime statute), Criminal Attempt to Commit Assault in the Third Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, and Risk of Injury to a Child.
According to a Case/Incident Report by State Capitol Police, Gilshteyn, a white woman, is accused of spitting on a black woman during a protest outside the State Capitol. Gilshteyn was initially charged with Breach of Peace. After the summons for the Breach of Peace charge was issued, investigators learned the incident was recorded by a television news camera crew who had been at the protest.
“The follow-up investigation done by Inspector Buyak, which included obtaining witness statements and video of the incident, confirmed that what occurred in Hartford on January 6, 2021 was much more than a breach of peace,” State’s Attorney Walcott said. “An assault launched against a person on account of their race as they are exercising their First Amendment right and freedom cannot be tolerated.”
Gilshteyn was originally released on a written promise to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A. 14, and her next court date is on May 19, 2021. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.