Defendant In Spitting Incident Will Seek To Clear Her Record

Connecticut Public Radio | By Ali Oshinskie

Published June 15, 2021 at 2:09 PM EDT

Keren Prescott stands outside Hartford Superior Court last month. Prescott's lawyer, Ken Krayeske, says ideally the case against Yuliya Gilshteyn would end in a conviction and not accelerated rehabilitation.

A Connecticut woman accused of a hate crime plans to file for accelerated rehabilitation, according to her lawyer.

Yuliya Gilshteyn was charged with a felony hate crime and three other offenses for allegedly spitting on Keren Prescott, a Black Lives Matter activist, during a protest at the Connecticut state Capitol on Jan. 6 of this year.

Accelerated rehabilitation is intended for defendants who aren’t expected to commit more crimes. Upon completion of the program, charges are dismissed and can be erased from their record.

The state took up this case against Gilshteyn and appointed Hartford’s top prosecutor, Sharmese Walcott, to personally oversee the matter.

Prescott’s lawyer, Ken Krayeske, is acting as a victim’s advocate and plans to object to the request for accelerated rehabilitation. He would prefer the state pursue a conviction.

“When I spoke with Sharmese Walcott, she indicated that they object -- they being the state -- objects to the grant of accelerated rehabilitation, but it’s up to the judge.”

Gilshteyn denies the spitting incident was racially motivated. The next hearing will take place July 30 in Hartford.

Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Ali covers the Naugatuck River Valley for Connecticut Public Radio. Email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org and follow her on Twitter at @ahleeoh.