Bill Cosby has been charged for the alleged 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand who was the former operations manager of the Temple University womens basketball program. It was there that she met Cosby in 2002.
At a press conference Wednesday, Montgomery County District Attorney-Elect Kevin Steele said that an arrest warrant had been issued for the entertainer.
Cosby is expected to be arraigned later this afternoon in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
The filing of charges comes just two weeks after Cosby filed defamation lawsuits against several accusers, who have also filed defamation lawsuits of their own.
At the press conference Steele added, “A prosecutor’s job is to follow the evidence wherever it leads and whenever it comes to light. Upon examination of all the evidence, today we are able to seek justice on behalf of the victim.”
“[Cosby] made two sexual advances at her that were rejected.” Steele added, “Mr. Cosby urged her to take pills and to drink wine, the effect of which left her unable to [rebuff his advances].”
Steele noted that the release of a deposition last summer from a civil suit filed by Constand caused the District Attorney’s office to reopen the case.
Constand was not available for comment but one of her attorneys expressed gratitude toward the prosecutor saying, “We’ll have to see what happens. We hope justice will be done. We will cooperate fully.”
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