Comedian Bill Cosby was arrested by authorities in Pennsylvania and charged with felony sexual assault today. The arrest marks the first criminal charge Cosby has faced in an onslaught of allegations that he drugged and raped dozens of women over the past several decades.
The charge of aggravated indecent assault is based on the allegations of Andrea Constand, who became acquainted with Cosby during her work with the Temple University basketball team. Constand claims she’d rebuffed sexual advances from Cosby twice before the entertainer urged her to drink wine and take pills. Once Constand was unable to move, Cosby assaulted her.
Montgomery County’s district attorney-elect, Kevin Steele said of the charges, “The evidence is strong and sufficient to proceed. A person in that state cannot give consent.”
Montgomery District Attorney’s Office
Cosby was forced to turn over his passport by Judge Elizabeth McHugh and ordered to avoid contact with Ms. Constand. He was then taken to the police station, fingerprinted and photographed. Mr. Cosby was released after posting 10 percent on $1 million bond.
Cosby’s attorneys have called the charges baseless saying, “The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county’s DA during which this case was made the focal point.”
If found guilty, Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
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