72-year-old accused of sexually assaulting movie theater employee with autism

NEW BERLIN, Wis. -- (WITI) -- Actions at a New Berlin movie theater turned into a real-life horror for an employee. A 72-year-old Campbellsport man is accused of sexually assaulting her several times at work.

The victim's father tells police she is autistic and cognitively disabled. Although she is 24 years old, she functions at a mental age of a ten or 12-year-old.

72-year-old Humberto Paniagua has been charged with four counts of felony sexual assault for his alleged actions at the Marcus Ridge Cinema.

The victim's father says his daughter has cleaned the lobby, theaters and bathrooms at the theater for the last four years.

Prosecutors say Paniagua would come to the theater while in town visiting his family. The victim says on several occasions he "touched" her and "hurt" her on her "privates" both over her clothing and under. At times he even used his mouth and also directed her to touch his genitals.

Court records state "she was scared and did not want to be touched," and the sexual assaults allegedly happened "approximately 20 times."