BATAVIA, N.Y. – A western New York woman who's accused of punching a 70-year-old Wal-Mart employee in the face on Christmas Eve is about to stand trial.
Jacquetta Simmons was charged with two counts of felony assault but one of those was reduced last week to a misdemeanor.
Nevertheless, the 26-year-old faces up to seven years in prison after being charged under New York state's "Granny Law." The law makes it a felony to injure someone 65 or older if the defendant is at least 10 years younger than the victim.
Simmons is accused of knocking Grace Suozzi off her feet with a blow to the face while Suozzi was checking her receipt. Simmons' lawyer says Suozzi grabbed her bag.
Jury selection starts Monday in Genesee County Court in Batavia.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
