Police have said that an armed security guard at a cinema in America said he would watch over a 15-year-old girl who did not have anyone to take her home but instead he led her to an empty room and raped her.
Augusta J. Williams, 31, was arrested on Tuesday, 17th January, and charged with one count of armed sexual battery on a minor, the Ocala Police Department (OPD) said.
He is accused of raping the 15-year-girl, unnamed, inside a cinema theatre at Ocala’s Hollywood 16 multiplex, in Ocala, a city in Marion County in northern Florida, in the USA.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the OPD on Wednesday saying: “On Jan. 15, the Ocala Police Department was notified of a sexual battery that occurred the night before at the Regal Hollywood 16 movie theater located at 2801 SW 27th Ave. Officers were informed that a 15-year-old victim was sexually battered by an armed security guard working at the movie theater.”
The cops explained: “On Jan. 14, the victim said she went to the theater with her friends to watch a movie and that she was dropped off by her mother. After the movie, her friend’s grandfather arrived to pick up her friends, however, refused to offer the victim a ride home.”
The cops said that the victim tried reaching her mother several times unsuccessfully and that the security guard told her friend’s grandfather that he would watch over her.
The cops said: “The victim tried calling her mother several times but could not get a hold of her. A security guard for the theater, Augusta Williams, 31, informed the grandfather that he would watch over the victim until she could get a ride home.
“Alone with Williams, the victim was then led to an empty theater where the movie ‘Whale’ was playing. Inside the empty theater, Williams led the victim near the movie screen, behind the curtains. The victim thought Williams was leading her to a backdoor exit and assumed that the security guard would drive her home. Instead, Williams raped the victim behind the curtain.
“The victim did not want to have sex, but she was fearful because Williams was armed with a gun. The victim told Williams to stop but he continued to assault her. Williams eventually stopped and threatened her not to tell anyone.”
The cops said that after the alleged assault, both the victim and the security guard left the cinema, saying: “Both exited the theater and the victim was picked up by her mother. The mother’s phone was not working properly but she was concerned for her daughter when she did not come home when expected, and so she drove to the theater. The victim told her mother of the incident the following day.
“Detectives contacted the movie theater management and retrieved video surveillance footage of Williams and the victim walking together through the movie theater hallways and both entered an empty theater and exited approximately 20 minutes later.
“OPD Evidence Officer Patterson, utilized UV lighting behind the curtain and located areas that exhibited a glow, indicating a possible positive response for evidence.
“When asked about what happened, Williams stated that he assisted the victim in looking for her lost cell phone, however, the movie theater they went in was not the one the victim was in previously.”
The cops said they had enough evidence to make an arrest, saying: “Based on the information given by the victim, the evidence located and collected by our officers, and Williams’ statements which contradict what the victim stated, there was probable cause for his arrest.
“Detective Kern arrested Williams for Sexual Battery of a Victim less than 18 years old (Armed). He was taken to the Marion County Jail.
“Williams was a security guard for Knights Security of Gainesville Public Safety.
“Heinous crimes like this can cause victims to feel paralyzed and overwhelmed, leaving them struggling to take action. We commend the victim for her strength and courage to come forward to law enforcement and seek justice. We applaud all our officers and staff for their hard work and efforts to make our community safe.”
The investigation is ongoing.
