Woman Sentenced for Attack at Theater

A woman who attacked and threatened a moviegoer in an Encino theater after becoming enraged when someone asked her to remove a crying child has been sentenced to 30 days of community service and placed on three years’ probation, the Los Angeles city attorney said.

Jewel Lynne Peyton, 28, of the Crenshaw district, was sentenced Tuesday by Van Nuys Municipal Court Commissioner Mitchell Block, after pleading no contest to a single count of making a terrorist threat.

Under the terms of her sentencing, Peyton must work 30 days on a Caltrans graffiti-removal work crew. She was also banned from owning or possessing any dangerous weapons and must stay away from the theater where the incident occurred.

The incident took place July 3 at a theater in the 17000 block of Ventura Boulevard, said Deputy City Atty. Patrick Hiscocks.

Several patrons objected to a group of people--including Peyton--who were talking during the movie and ignoring a crying child in their party.

It was unclear whether the victim, an unnamed North Hollywood woman, was one of those complaining, but when another moviegoer seated behind the victim shouted at Peyton to remove the child from the theater, Peyton attacked the woman, inflicting cuts on her face and arms, according to police.

After the victim’s husband pulled Peyton off his wife, Peyton said she was going to get a gun from her car and shoot the woman, Hiscocks said.

A theater manager telephoned police, who arrested Peyton as she walked back to her car.