Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A Long Beach woman was indicted on attempted kidnapping charges after allegedly launching a violent attack on a 79-year-old man and repeatedly trying to rip his 15-month-old great-granddaughter from her stroller on a Long Beach street in early April, according to News 12 Long Island. Heather Magone, 40, was arraigned Thursday, May 28, 2026, on a Nassau County grand jury indictment and entered a plea of not guilty.
According to prosecutors, the disturbing encounter unfolded on the afternoon of Sunday, April 6, on West Penn Street in Long Beach. Magone, who was barefoot and walking her dog at the time, approached the elderly man as he took his 15-month-old great-granddaughter out for a stroll. What began as an approach quickly escalated into a physical assault. Prosecutors say Magone ran directly at the 79-year-old man and began attacking him while simultaneously attempting to take control of the stroller. As News 12 Long Island reports, the two struggled violently, and the stroller — with the toddler strapped securely inside — tipped over during the confrontation.
Rather than stopping after the stroller fell, Magone allegedly persisted in trying to reach the child even as the great-grandfather fought to protect her. The elderly man ultimately managed to push Magone away and physically restrain her, holding her in place until Long Beach police officers arrived on the scene. The great-grandfather was not unscathed — he suffered cuts to his face, hands, and knees as a result of the struggle, prosecutors say.
The confrontation did not end when officers arrived. According to News 12 Long Island, Magone allegedly stood up in the presence of police and made yet another attempt to pull the toddler from the stroller, going so far as to rip open the child’s sleep sack before officers were able to take her into custody. The brazenness of the alleged attack — continuing even in front of responding law enforcement — formed a central part of prosecutors’ case before the grand jury.
Magone was arraigned on Thursday on three counts: attempted kidnapping in the second degree, endangering the welfare of a child, and reckless endangerment. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her next court date is scheduled for June 23, 2026. Bail was set; if Magone is released prior to trial, she is required to wear an electronic monitoring device. Two separate orders of protection have also been issued in connection with the case.
If convicted on the attempted kidnapping charge — the most serious count in the indictment — Magone faces a prison sentence of between three and a half and 15 years.
Location & Road Context
The incident occurred on West Penn Street in Long Beach, a barrier island city on the South Shore of Nassau County. West Penn Street is a residential thoroughfare in the tight-knit Long Beach community, where pedestrians and families regularly use sidewalks and nearby areas for afternoon walks. Long Beach is connected to mainland Long Island via the Long Beach Bridge and is well-served by the LIRR’s Long Beach Branch. For up-to-date traffic and road conditions in the area, visit our Long Island roads page.
Long Beach has seen a notable string of serious criminal incidents involving residents in recent months. In March 2026, Erin M. Henry, of Long Beach, was charged in a fatal crash with a bicyclist in East Atlantic Beach, and a separate Long Beach woman was also arrested the same month on DWI and assault charges following a combative arrest, underscoring a pattern of serious incidents drawing law enforcement attention in the city.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Heather Magone, 40, was formally arraigned on Thursday, May 28, 2026, following a Nassau County grand jury indictment. She faces charges of attempted kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, and reckless endangerment — all stemming from the April 6 incident on West Penn Street. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and is due back in Nassau County court on June 23, 2026.
Bail was set at Thursday’s hearing. Should Magone be released, the court has mandated that she wear an electronic monitoring device. Additionally, two orders of protection have been issued — likely covering both the toddler and the great-grandfather who was injured during the attack. If convicted on the top count of attempted kidnapping, Magone faces a sentencing range of three and a half to 15 years in New York State prison. The case was reported by News 12 Long Island on May 28, 2026.
Broader Impact
Under New York Penal Law, attempted kidnapping in the second degree is a Class C felony, which carries the sentencing range of three and a half to 15 years cited by prosecutors in this case. The fact that the alleged victim was a 15-month-old child and that the attack continued in the presence of responding police officers is likely to weigh heavily during sentencing proceedings if Magone is ultimately convicted. New York courts treat offenses involving children under 11 as aggravating factors in numerous related statutes, and the endangering the welfare of a child charge adds an additional layer of criminal exposure to the indictment. Readers seeking information on how incidents like this affect families navigating public safety on Long Island’s streets can find resources through our accidents and safety coverage.