Woman says she was groped at Sherman Oaks movie theater

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. (FOX 11) - "I'm going to tell you that's the most traumatizing thing when you're in the dark in a movie theater and you're feeling a hand on your leg," a sexual assault victim told FOX 11.

The victim's first name is Sunshine, and she said she was sexually assaulted while watching a movie at the ArcLight in Sherman Oaks.

She said she felt the man grab her, and at the same time, he was touching himself.

"That's when I went in full terror mode. My body just froze," she said.

According to the victim, the assault happened last Wednesday during a matinee showing of "Beatriz at Dinner."

In shock, she said she quickly left the movie to get help, but that's when she says the suspect got away.

"He comes out of the side door out of the theater and runs through the emergency exit and I said, 'that's him, that's him,'" she said.

There was no theater security around to stop the man, according to the victim.

"I don't want to be a victim in all of this, but I feel like that company didn't have my back or that my safety wasn't number one," she said.

Instead, she said the theater gave her four movie tickets as compensation. She filed a report of sexual battery with police and a detective confirmed he's investigating.

The victim said she's coming forward to warn others, especially since the alleged perpetrator is still out there.

"I'm completely traumatized, and I don't want to go to the movie theaters at this point again and definitely not alone," she said.

FOX 11 tried to reach someone from ArcLight's parent company Decurion via phone and email, but didn't get a response by airtime.

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