Defendant Allegedly Harassed, Then Struck Victim with Metal Pipe; Faces Up to 15 Years in Prison if Convicted

QUEENS, NY (TIP): Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today, October 6, that Joval Cedeno, 41, has been indicted by aQueens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on assault as a hate crime and other charges forallegedly pursuing and then attacking a Muslim woman inside the N train near the Queensboro Plaza train stationon February 18, 2022. District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, the defendant was motivated by his own hatred when he attackedthe victim, who was wearing a Hijab at the time, based on her physical appearance and perceived ethnicity.

Thisshameful behavior will not be tolerated in Queens County, and I remain committed to holding accountable thosewho try to undermine the feeling of safety for our vibrant and diverse communities. The defendant has been indicted and faces justice in our courts.” Cedeno, of Winthrop Street in Brooklyn, was arraigned yesterday before Queens Supreme Court JusticeToni Cimino on a five-count indictment. The defendant is charged with assault in the second and third degrees asa hate crime, assault in the second and third degrees and aggravated harassment in the second degree. Justice

Cimino ordered the defendant to return to Court on November 2, 2022. Cedeno faces up to 15 years in prison ifconvicted.

Following an investigation led by Detective Desmond Brown of the New York City Police Department’sHate Crime Task Force, Cedeno was apprehended in his home in Brooklyn on September 14, 2022. Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Mendoza, Assistant Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’sHate Crimes, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michael Brovner, BureauChief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Supreme Court TrialDivision Pishoy B. Yacoub.Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until provenguilty.