ELKINS PARK, Pa. (AP) — The latest on the announcement of a criminal charge against Bill Cosby in Pennsylvania (all times local):
4:50 p.m.
Bill Cosby’s attorney says a sexual assault charge is unjustified and that the comedian will be exonerated following a vigorous defense.
Monique Pressley says the charge by the Montgomery County district attorney’s office in Pennsylvania was no surprise.
Cosby was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Elkins Park.
He is charged with drugging and sexually assaulting the woman in 2004 inside his home near Philadelphia. It’s the first criminal case brought against the comedian out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America’s Dad.
The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
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3:10 p.m.
Bill Cosby has been released on $1 million bail on a sex assault charge in Pennsylvania.
Cosby was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Elkins Park on the charge, which was filed over a 2004 encounter in his home outside Philadelphia.
Police say he was fingerprinted and photographed before being released. His next court hearing is Jan. 14.
Cosby is charged with drugging and sexually assaulting the woman. It’s the first criminal case brought against the comedian out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America’s Dad.
Cosby shook his head as reporters shouted questions at him before the hearing. His lawyers also didn’t comment.
The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
In court, he agreed to have no contact with the accuser.
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2:50 p.m.
Bill Cosby has been arraigned on a sex assault charge in Pennsylvania and will remain free on $1 million bail pending trial.
Cosby will be fingerprinted at a police station near the Elkins Park courtroom. He did not have to enter a plea, and his next court hearing is Jan. 14.
Prosecutors say the comedian urged a former Temple University employee to take pills and drink wine at his home in 2004. Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s first assistant district attorney, says that left the woman paralyzed and unable to respond to Cosby’s sexual advances — and that Cosby committed aggravated indecent assault.
Cosby shook his head as reporters shouted questions at him before the hearing. The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
In court, he agreed to have no contact with the accuser.
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2:30 p.m.
Bill Cosby has arrived at a district court outside Philadelphia for his arraignment on a sexual assault charge and shook his head as reporters shouted questions at him.
Cosby is being arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a charge filed over a 2004 encounter in his home outside Philadelphia. He stumbled briefly on his short walk from a dark-colored SUV to the door.
Prosecutors say the comedian urged the former Temple University employee to take pills he had and to drink wine. Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s first assistant district attorney, says the woman was paralyzed and unable to respond to his advances — and that Cosby committed aggravated indecent assault.
Calls to his attorneys were not immediately returned. The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
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11 a.m.
The lawyer for a woman who accuses Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2004 is praising a prosecutor for filing a criminal charge against the comedian.
Dolores Troiani says Andrea Constand appreciates the consideration and courtesy that investigators have shown in the reopened case. Troiani also says she and her client “have the utmost confidence” in the law enforcement team now handling the case. She says she otherwise will not comment on the criminal case.
Cosby is expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a sexual assault charge.
A message left with one of Cosby’s civil attorneys was not immediately returned. A second did not pick up his phone. A third attorney expected to represent him in the criminal case did not return a message.
The 78-year-old comedian has said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
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10:25 a.m.
Bill Cosby is expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a sexual assault charge filed over a 2004 encounter in his home outside Philadelphia.
Prosecutors say the comedian urged the former Temple University employee to take pills he had and to drink wine. Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s first assistant district attorney, says the woman was paralyzed and unable to respond to his advances — and that Cosby committed aggravated indecent assault.
Steele says recently released excerpts from Cosby’s deposition in a civil lawsuit led to the renewed investigation.
Steele says that after seeing the deposition material “reopening this case was not a question, rather it was our duty.”
Cosby’s lawyer declined to comment on the charge before the announcement. The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
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10 a.m.
Bill Cosby has been charged with sexual assault more than a decade after a former Temple University employee told police the comedian drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.
It’s the first criminal charge against Cosby over his conduct with women, which has received new scrutiny in the past year.
The Montgomery County prosecutor announced Wednesday that Cosby had been charged with aggravated indecent assault, a felony. It’s a reversal of a decision by a previous district attorney, who declined to charge Cosby in 2005.
Cosby’s lawyer declined to comment on the case before the announcement. The 78-year-old comedian previously said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
Prosecutors reopened the case as new evidence was unsealed in the woman’s related civil case and dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.
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9:50 a.m.
Two people familiar with a prosecutor’s decision say Bill Cosby will be charged in the investigation of an alleged sexual assault more than a decade ago.
The two people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Montgomery County prosecutors had yet to make the announcement.
It’s the first criminal charges against Cosby over his conduct with women, which has received new scrutiny in the past year.
A former Temple University employee told police the comedian drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia. Prosecutors are set to announce the results of their investigation Wednesday morning.
A previous district attorney declined to charge Cosby in 2005.
The 78-year-old comedian previously said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
Prosecutors reopened the case as new evidence was unsealed in the woman’s related civil case and dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.
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9:30 a.m.
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania are set to announce whether Bill Cosby will be charged over an encounter with a woman 12 years ago.
Montgomery County prosecutors say they will announce the results of a new investigation on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
A former Temple University employee told police the comedian drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia in 2004.
Cosby’s lawyer declined to comment on the case before the announcement. The 78-year-old comedian previously said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
A previous district attorney declined to charge Cosby in 2005. Prosecutors reopened the case as new evidence was unsealed in the woman’s related civil case and dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.
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