Who Is Hansel Esparragoza and Why Is He in Trouble?

Hansel Esparragoza, a 37-year-old man from Staten Island, is facing some serious charges. On September 13, he allegedly punched an elderly woman on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This isn't his first time in trouble with the law. In fact, he has 21 prior arrests and was out on bail for two other cases when this happened. Esparragoza was caught on video approaching the woman, who was walking her son's dog, and then punching her in the face. She fell unconscious and suffered a fractured nose and bruises on her face and neck. The 81-year-old victim can't remember anything about the attack due to amnesia. You might be wondering why Esparragoza was free despite his previous crimes. It's because of New York State's bail reform laws. Many charges against him weren't eligible for bail, so he was released under supervision. His lawyer says he has mental health and substance abuse issues that need attention. Esparragoza has one prior felony conviction for trying to beat up someone who wouldn't give up their bike. He's now facing up to three years in prison if found guilty of the current charges. His next court date is October 9.