Man convicted of sexual assault at Sacramento area movie theater

A Sacramento jury convicted a man of sexually assaulting one woman at a movie theater, and assaulting a second female employee at a second business.

The Sacramento County DA’s Office released a statement on the conviction today.

The Honorable Alexander Pal sentenced Marvin Bell to 2 years and 6 months in state prison. On July 23, 2023, a jury convicted Bell of assault with intent to commit oral copulation, false imprisonment, sexual battery and battery.

October 29, 2022, the victim and her friend were at a movie theater waiting for a movie when a stranger, Marvin Bell, began talking to them. Bell then kissed the victim without her consent. The victim went to the bathroom and Bell followed her in, entered the stall she was in, locked the door and began demanding sexual acts while touching intimate parts of her body. The victim was able to physically push past Bell, stopping the sexual assault, and ran to theater staff for help. Bell fled to another business where he made advances at a young female employee, put his arm around her waist and pulled her body against his. She was able to pull away and seek help. Bell was caught a short time later at a nearby business. DNA helped prove that Bell had sexually assaulted the first victim.

Sacramento County DA’s office