Twilight 'Bootlegger' Sues Theater After Jail Stint

An Illinois woman who spent 2 days in jail for taping part of Twilight: New Moon is suing the movie theater that ratted her out. Samantha Tumpach, 22, says she wasn’t trying to pirate the movie; she was out celebrating with friends, and the video she shot was primarily of them. She trained her camera on the screen only twice before the usher spotted her—both times to catch her “favorite actor taking his shirt off,” according to the suit.

The clips were just 114 seconds long and 85 seconds long, respectively, according to Wired. The local police and MPAA both recommended against arresting her, but the theater’s manager allegedly insisted, intent on collecting the $500 reward the MPAA and National Association of Theater Owners offer employees who catch pirates. Felony charges were later dropped, but Tumpach’s seeking $50,000 in damages for the “humiliation and shame” she suffered. (More The Twilight Saga: New Moon stories.)