PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Dec. 30, 2015 (United Press International) — New information from a sexual assault case filed against Bill Cosby in 2004 has brought prosecutors to charge the defamed comedian with a first-degree felony.
“Today, after examination of all the evidence, we are able to seek justice on behalf of the victim,” Pennsylvania District Attorney Kevin Steele said during a press conference Wednesday morning.
Cosby is facing a single aggravated indecent assault charge from an incident that took place inside his home against Andrea Constand, former Temple University employee, in January 2004, court documents reveal.
With a statute of limitations of 12 years, Constand’s case would not have been applicable by January 2016. It is the first time the 78-year-old has been criminally charged, though more than 50 women have made similar accusations.
“Reopening the case was not a question, rather, reopening this case was our duty,” Steel added during the press conference.
Victim Constand, now a massage therapist in Ontario, Canada filed a lawsuit against Cosby in 2005, accusing the former “The Cosby Show” actor of drugging and sexually assaulting her a year before.
This year, a newly released deposition from Cosby in relation to the case revealed he did in fact give drugs to women for sex. The comedian, however, claimed the exchanges were consensual.anges were consensual.
