Dascha Polanco attends Glamour Women Of The Year Awards on November 9, 2015 in New York City. (2015 Getty Images)
Soon she may do more than just play a convict on television.
In a case of life imitating art, one of the stars of the Netflix hit show, "Orange Is the New Black," Dascha Polanco, is facing a court battle after allegedly attacking a 17-year-old girl.
Polanco – who plays Dayanara Diaz, an inmate serving time at Litchfield Penitentiary on drug charges – appeared in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday to face four counts of assault and harassment after allegedly roughing up 17-year old Michelle Cardona in her Upper Manhattan home on July 29.
According to court documents obtained by the New York Post, Cardona claims that the 33-year-old actress punched her in the head, pulled her hair and scratched the teen's arms.
"Ms. Cardona observed the defendant strike Ms. Cardona about the face and head with a closed fist at least three times, pull Ms. Cardona's hair, and strike Ms. Cardona's arms with the defendant's hands and nails," the complaint charges.
It isn't known what precipitated the alleged assault, but police said that Polanco had invited Cardona to her apartment via text message.
Police also reported that Cardona was hospitalized for her injuries, which included "bruising and redness to her face, scratches to her arms and substantial pain."
Polanco's lawyer dismissed the charges as an attempt by Cardona to squeeze money out of the actress.
"This is an attempt to extort money by making a false claim," Lefcourt told People.
Polanco is due back in court in January.
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