During a press conference Wednesday morning, Bill Cosby was charged with alleged aggravated indecent assault, a second degree felony. Soon after, an arraignment was held at the Montgomery County courthouse in suburban Philadelphia and, according to Variety, Cosby's bail was set at $1 million. Deadline reports that Cosby did not have to enter a plea, but the charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Cosby reportedly posted bail and will remain free pending trial. Bustle has reached out to Cosby’s lawyer for comment on the charge, but has not yet heard back.
The charge was filed early Wednesday morning and announced by Montgomery County, Pennsylvania authorities in response to the alleged assault of Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who claims Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at his Pennsylvania home in 2004.
At the time of the announcement of criminal charges, Kevin Steele, first assistant district attorney and incoming DA, said, "Upon examination of all of the evidence, today we are able to seek justice on behalf of Mr. Cosby's victim."
Constand's case is 10 years old and the first to bring criminal charges against Cosby. Constand first came forward and filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby in 2005, in which district attorney Bruce Castor did not charge the 78-year-old comedian. Her case is being reopened based on new evidence from over the summer when the Associated Press obtained documents from a 2005 deposition where Cosby admitted to obtaining Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with. The deposition also included claims from Cosby about Constand and what he described as a "sexual moment" with her.
Regarding the reveal of these court documents, Cosby's reps responded as follows: "The only reason Mr. Cosby settled was because it would have been embarrassing in those days to put all those women on the stand and his family had no clue. That would have been very hurtful."
In November 2014, Cosby's former lawyer Marty Singer released the following statement in regards to the claims of sexual assault, when the number of allegations started increasing:
Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives.
