Bill Cosby finally faces court for sexual assault charges

“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,” Cosby’s attorneys said in a statement released after his arraignment Wednesday. “Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law”.

Cosby faces three felony charges of aggravated indecent assault in the case, which is tied to a 2004 accusation in Montgomery County. He is being accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand – investigators allege that Cosby “sought to incapacitate” Constand by giving her a mix of pills and wine that made her slipping in and out of consciousness and unable to consent to sexual activity.

New evidence in the 11-year-old case “shows Cosby established a relationship with the victim after meeting her through her work associated with Temple University’s women’s basketball program,” Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele said.

“On the evening in question, Mr. Cosby urged her to take pills that he provided to her, and to drink wine, the effect of which rendered her unable to move or respond to his advances, and he committed aggravated indecent assault upon her,” Steele said.

Prosecutors re-examined the original investigation in light of the new documents, reinterviewed witnesses and decided to pursue the criminal charge.

The comedian looked frail as he walked with a cane alongside his attorneys, and appeared to have difficulty seeing as he was guided to his seat.

His bail has been set at $1 million and when asked if he understood the proceedings, Cosby responded, “yes,” with a smile on his face, no doubt very upsetting to his alleged victims.