Man 'Shushed' in Theater Gets 6 Months

Man 'Shushed' in Theater Gets 6 Months


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A man was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail for assaulting a man who shushed him during a movie, leaving the victim with a punctured lung and broken ribs.

According to testimony during his October trial, Paul Elrod, 39, arrived late to a movie in March and told his wife that he had had trouble finding a parking space.

Jamin Eisenbach, 51, turned and said, "Sshh," putting a finger to his mouth. Eisenbach testified that he felt the back of his seat being kicked several times during the show, heard coughing behind him and felt blowing in his hair.

After the movie, Eisenbach said Elrod kicked him in the chest and he fell backward down a few steps and hit a railing. He was hospitalized nine days.

Elrod admitted during the trial he was upset over being shushed, but said he was defending himself in the fight.

The judge also ordered Elrod to pay more than $13,000 restitution and take anger management classes.