Bill Cosby ‘accused unjustly’ in sex assault case – attorney

WASHINGTON, USA – Fallen TV superstar Bill Cosby is in “good spirits” and is confident he will be cleared of a felony sex assault charge brought against him, his attorney said Thursday, December 31.

The US television icon appeared in a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday, December 30, to face the charge of aggravated indecent assault over a 2004 incident – the first criminal charge filed against him after claims by dozens of women of sexual misconduct.

“He’s been accused unjustly of a crime so, certainly, that’s upsetting, but he’s in good spirits and he knows he has a legal team that is intent on defending him until he is exonerated,” attorney Monique Pressley told NBC television’s “Today” show.

“My client is not guilty, and there will be no consideration on our part of any sort of arrangement,” she added, when asked whether the comedian might consider a guilty plea in exchange for a possible lighter prison sentence.

Cosby, 78, did not enter a plea in the courtroom in Elkins Park, in the Philadelphia area, a court clerk told Agence France-Presse. The actor will remain free on $1 million bond, and a hearing was set for January 14. 

The case against him relates to the alleged sexual assault of Andrea Constand, a former employee at Temple University in Philadelphia, Cosby’s alma mater where he was also a trustee. 

Constand says the television legend assaulted her at his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Cheltenham in 2004.

If found guilty, the veteran television star – who has surrendered his passport to the court – could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Pressley raised concerns that her client has been unfairly branded as guilty by the media before any court proceedings even take place.

“I believe when you separate what happens in the court of law from what has been allowed to happen in the fictional court of public opinion, you will get an outcome that justice requires,” she said.

Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, a lawyer for several of the women accusing Cosby of sexually assaulting them, but whose cases occurred too long ago to press charges, told NBC her clients are “very happy” that Cosby has been charged.

Allred added that other women have contacted her who have not yet come forward, making similar accusations against the comedian.

“Even before the charges yesterday, some of them said they would be prepared to testify, but didn’t want to go public before that time,” she said.

“Since yesterday, I’ve had even more contacts from even more women.” – Rappler.com

Bill Cosby photo via Shutterstock