Dascha Polanco, best known for her role as Dayanara Diaz in Orange is the New Black, is facing four counts of assault and harassment. 17-year-old Michelle Cardona alleges the actress roughed her up in her upper Manhattan home back in July.
OITNB's Dascha Polanco is facing assault charges for allegedly punching a teenage girl: https://t.co/q2AylxEIDk pic.twitter.com/m3zO6bTlrf
— E! Online (@eonline) December 4, 2015
As Dayanara Diaz, Dascha Polanco plays an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary, who is having an ongoing affair with a prison guard. She is in prison for drug charges.
‘OITNB’ star Dascha Polanco hit with assault charges after punching teenage girl https://t.co/lSssEEIyVt
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) December 4, 2015
In real life, Dayanara Diaz allegedly punched, scratched, and pulled the hair of the teen girl.
Might TV life meet real life if Diaz is found guilty?
According to a report from Page Six, police claim Michelle Cardona suffered “bruising and redness to her face, scratches to her arms, and substantial pain,” and was hospitalized for her injuries.
Dascha Polanco reportedly invited the teen to her apartment via text message prior to the alleged attack.
Gerald Lefcourt is Dascha Polanco’s defense attorney. He is confident his client will get off.
“It’s a setup to try to get money and it was tape-recorded,” Lefcourt says. “This young woman was trying to extort her to drop the case. We’re confident the charges will be dismissed.”
It looks like legal troubles have spilled into OITNB star Dascha Polanco's real life: https://t.co/NTfbHhiYGc pic.twitter.com/utF4c542uq
— E! Online (@eonline) December 4, 2015
Dascha Polanco appeared on the assault charges on Thursday, which was also her birthday. She declined to comment on the case.
Do you think Dascha Polanco is a real-life criminal? Or is it more likely–as her defense attorney stated–that Michelle Cardona is setting her up for money?