Store employee arrested, accused of sexually assaulting customer at Lake County mall

LAKE COUNTY, Fla — An employee of the Cappadocia Art store in ViaPort Mall in Lake County was arrested after a customer accused him of sexually assaulting her while negotiating the purchase of a lamp.

The woman, who was not identified, told officers she had been at the mall bowling with friends and decided to go shopping after they left.

She went to Cappadocia Art to look at a lamp she was wanting to purchase for a friend when she was approached by Sevket Aksoz, an employee of the store.

She asked him what she could get for $50 and he offered her the lamp for $60, the woman told investigators.

At that point, the woman said Aksoz’s actions became uncomfortable.

“(Aksoz) said to the victim she was beautiful and put his hand on her arm then her waist, eventually holding her hand and guiding her around the store,” a Lake County arrest warrant said.

The woman told investigators that because Aksoz appeared to be foreign, she thought that kind of physical attention may be part of his custom and she allowed it to continue.

Aksoz offered to give her a ring from the store, which the woman said she declined, and the told her there was a piece at the back of the store that she “would love,” the warrant said.

The victim told Aksoz no, but he continued to lead her to the back of the store, the warrant said.

No one else was in the store, the woman told investigators.

Once at the back of the store, the woman said Aksoz forced himself on her, kissing her and pushing her onto what she described as a couch or bed.

Aksoz said the woman “owed him” because he discounted the lamp, the warrant said.

The woman was able to get to her feet but Aksoz continued to hold her before sliding his hand into her pants twice, once in the back and then the front, the warrant said.

The victim said she was able to get away from Aksoz by telling him she would meet him later at the bowling alley. She then paid for the lamp and left, the warrant said.

When officers questioned Aksoz, he told them it was the woman who initiated the physical contact.

“After she paid for the items, she asked him for a hug, which he allowed,” the warrant quoted Aksoz as saying. “She asked for, and he provided, his phone number.”

He told investigators that “the victim left the store with a smile,” the warrant said.

The victim said she was hesitant to come forward, but didn’t want anyone else to be victimized, authorities said.

Aksoz was arrested and charged with attempted sexual battery and false imprisonment.

He was being held at the Lake County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $30,000.

WFTV