Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was arraigned in a Pennsylvania courtroom earlier today (December 31) on sexual assault charges in relation to an alleged incident, which occurred in 2004.
Cosby faces three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault in the case, and the 78 year old faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Cosby has faced sexual assault and drugging allegations from a multitude of women throughout the year. However the specific charges the comedian actor is currently facing relates to accusations made by a former Temple University employee Andrea Constand who first came out about her assault at the hands of Cosby over a decade ago.
Although Constand and Cosby came to an agreement and settled out of court in a civil case for an undisclosed amount in 2006, however the district attorney in Montgomery County at the time decided not to press criminal charges against Cosby. When new information surfaced this past summer authorities decided to take action, unsealed Cosby’s 2005 disposition he made in regards to the accusations and pursue charges against the actor. “We examined all the evidence and we made this determination because it was the right thing to do,” First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said during a press conference this morning, as the statue of limitations regarding Constand’s case draws near next month.
Cosby was released on a $1 million bond and did not enter into a plea. He is due back in court to face a judge next month on January 14th.
