Sunny Hostin, co-host of ABC’s daytime talk show “The View,” is drawing criticism for her handling of her son’s June arrest for trespassing on railroad property in suburban New York.
According to court records and bodycam footage obtained by the New York Post, Hostin’s 24-year-old son Gabriel was arrested on June 16 in New Rochelle, located approximately 17 miles from New York City. Police officers discovered him “on the right-of-way of the active railroad tracks, in violation of the posted no trespassing signs,” the records state.
Shortly after being handcuffed, Gabriel requested to call his mother and have officers speak with her. When Hostin got on the phone, Officer Gomez explained the situation to her, emphasizing the safety concerns involved.
“Besides being illegal, it’s actually very dangerous for him to be around the railroad tracks. We get people who get hit all the time,” the officer told her, according to the bodycam footage.
Hostin quickly highlighted her son’s educational background and character. “That’s my son. He’s a Harvard graduate. He’s not a criminal. He has no criminal record, no criminal history,” she responded.
The officer informed her that police had already reduced the charge from a criminal misdemeanor to a violation, noting that Gabriel had been cooperative. “There’s nothing on his record, and he’s been very cooperative with us. But as of right now, we will have to issue him an appearance ticket,” Gomez explained.
Hostin pressed further, questioning the necessity of any citation at all. “Officer, is that really necessary? This is a kid who doesn’t do anything. He’s a Harvard graduate and a Yale researcher,” she said, adding that her son “teaches geometry to 4th graders in the Bronx.”
Officer Stands Firm on Citation
Officer Gomez maintained his position, clarifying the nature of the charge while acknowledging the inconvenience. “It’s not anything criminal. He just has to appear. That’s all it is. It’s not a misdemeanor,” the officer said. “He would have to appear, which is an inconvenience, but with all due respect, man, I still have a job to do, and we have to deter people from being on the tracks.”
When Hostin arrived at the scene, she requested that the violation be reduced to a warning, but Gomez indicated he could not make that change at that point in the process.
Gabriel Hostin was ultimately issued a 140.05 citation, which constitutes a trespass violation under New York law. While violations are classified as “non-criminal offenses” that can still result in arrest, fines, or jail time, they do not create a criminal record and typically do not appear on most applications.
Gabriel characterized the incident as “an innocent mistake,” claiming the gate to the railroad area was open at the time.
Legal Representation and Conflicting Claims
Hostin, who previously worked as a federal prosecutor, has taken on her son’s legal representation in an effort to clear him of the violation entirely.
In a letter to Assistant District Attorney Amanda Greene obtained by TMZ, Hostin argued that “the circumstances of this case do not reflect the type of conduct the New York Penal Law § 140.05 was intended to address.”
The letter provided additional context about Gabriel’s activities that day, describing him as a Harvard graduate and former Junior Olympian track athlete who was training when he “observed what appeared to be a gravel incline that could be used for his training.” Hostin claimed in the letter that the “No Trespassing” sign was positioned on the left gate and therefore not visible when the gates were open.
However, Metro-North Railroad police subsequently released a photograph showing that a “No Trespassing” sign was visible on a pole near the open gates, contradicting the claim made in Hostin’s letter.
The television personality has not publicly addressed the incident on social media or discussed it on “The View.”
The case highlights ongoing debates about how privilege and status can influence interactions with law enforcement, even in relatively minor incidents. Critics have questioned whether Hostin’s repeated emphasis on her son’s Ivy League credentials and her own professional background represented an inappropriate attempt to leverage her position.
The outcome of Gabriel Hostin’s case remains pending.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-view-host-uses-her-privilege-after-son-is-arrested