Bill Cosby To Be Charged With Sexual Assault; Arrest Warrant Issued

Despite suing a handful of his rape accusers, Bill Cosby could yet again see himself on the wrong side of the law. The AP reports that according to two people with knowledge of the prosecutors decision, Bill Cosby will be charged for sexual assault in a case from 2004.

At the time of the report, Montgomery County prosecutors had yet to make the announcement, which is why the “two people” spoke anonymously. Since the initial announcement, PEOPLE reports that a warrant has been issued for Cosby’s arrest.

In 2004 Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, told police that Cosby drugged and violated her at his Elkins Park, Pennsylvania home. The district attorney at the time declined to charge Cosby. In 2006 she settled her lawsuit with Cosby on “confidential” terms. 

“Obviously we appreciate the expression of confidence in her,” says Constand’s lawyer. “We’ll have to see what happens. We hope justice will be done. We will cooperate fully.” 

This will be the first criminal case against Cosby, who’s been accused of drugging and/or sexually assaulting upwards of 80 women. Due to many of the allegations being decades old, the statute of limitations have run out on most.  However for certain sex crimes, Pennsylvania law gives prosecutors up to 12 years to pursue charges. This gives them until January. 

In court filings over the summer, Cosby admitted to his extramarital affairs and said that he and Constand had consensual sex. He says that all he gave Constand during their encounter was Benedryl and that when Constand left his home, she didn’t seem angry or unhappy. However in those same court filings, Constand said she was in a relationship with a woman at the time. She also called Cosby a “narcissist” who missed cues that she’s gay. 

Andrea Constand, who is now 42, currently works as a massage therapist in Ontario, Canada.

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