On Wednesday, Bill Cosby was charged with sexual assault for a crime he allegedly committed about 12 years ago.Cosby is accused of drugging and raping former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, at his Philadelphia home in 2004. The charges filed become the first criminal charges levied against him.It should be noted that Constand was the first person to allege sexual assault against Cosby publicly, and since then, dozens of women have come forwardand claimed the same.
Kevin Steele, Montgomery County district attorney-elect, said that officials decided to reopen the criminal investigation into the Cosby case(Constand had settled the civil case against him in 2006) in July after new evidence came to light. “The evidence shows Mr. Cosby established a relationship with the victim after meeting her through her work associated with Temple University’s women’s basketball program,” Steele stated.
In 2006, Cosby discussed the nature of the relationship he had with Constand. He was quick to declare that he was an unapologetic playboy, not a sexual predator. Cosby said he was her mentor and provided her with useful professional connections. He claimed to have invited Constand to his house several times, where they had dinner. During one of these dates, Cosby admitted to having given her one and a half pills of Benadryl. Shortly after which, they had sexual intercourse.
Constand, on her part, describes a different story altogether. She claims that she had never been interested in a romantic relationship with Cosby and never imagined he would hit on her, considering he (Cosby) is much older than her father. Constand claims that on the material night in 2004, Cosby convinced her to take the pills, and soon after taking them, she felt nauseated, dizzy, and had blurred vision. The next thing she recalls is waking up at 4 a.m. with her bra undone and her sweater bunched up.
The charges go a long way in tarnishing the image of the much-celebrated comedian and fatherfigure. Cosby, for several few years, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons after numerous women publicly came out to claim he had sexually assaulted or harassed them. The veteran was in the process of trying to reignite his former glory, and reports say that NBC was considering a project that would have seenCosby return to prime time television.
A frail-looking Cosby, who seemed to have difficulty seeing, arrived in a black sports utility vehicle for his arraignment at Elkins Park, PA district court. The judge, Elizabeth McHugh, set his bail at $1 million and ordered him to surrender his passport and avoid any contact with Constand.Cosby later proceeded to the police station in Cheltenham Township to be booked. He posted bail and left the police station.
The charges come as good news to the many women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by Cosby.”For many of my 29 clients, who allege they are victims of Bill Cosby, seeing him criminally charged and having to face a trial is the best Christmas present they’ve received,” attorney Gloria Allred told reporters.
Cosby’s career may have come to an end with this new development, but of more concern to him and his lawyers is that he could face a possible ten years behind bars if he is found guilty.
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