UPDATE 5:00 p.m.:
In a statement obtained by CNN, Bill Cosby's attorneys said Wednesday's sexual assault charge "came as no surprise" and blamed it on a "hotly contested election" for the county's district attorney. "Make no mistake," the attorneys said in a joint statement, "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."
UPDATE 2:36 p.m.:
Bill Cosby arrived at Pennsylvania district court on Wednesday afternoon for arraignment, CNBC reported. Cosby was seated alone inside the courtroom, according to CNN.
He reportedly did not enter a plea. A hearing has been set for Jan. 14.
See original story below.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Bill Cosby for an 2004 alleged sexual assault, People reports. Cosby is accused of drugging and raping Andrea Constand at his home in Pennsylvania. "Obviously we appreciate the expression of confidence in her," Constand's attorney, Dolores Troiani, says of this development. "We'll have to see what happens. We hope justice will be done. We will cooperate fully."
Anonymous sources close to the investigation revealed to the Associated Press that Cosby will be charged with sexual assault, with Montgomery County prosecutors officially announcing charges shortly after. "On the evening in question, Mr. Cosby urged her to take pills which he provided," prosecutors said during a press conference on Wednesday. "We are able to seek justice on behalf of the victim." Cosby was officially charged with aggravated indecent assault, a "felony in the first degree." The docket, excerpted below and shared in full by @BradHeath, reveals three counts against Cosby:
This marks the first time that criminal charges have been filed against Cosby, who has now been accused by more than 50 women of rape. Constand, a former Temple University employee, was reportedly in a relationship with a woman during the time of her alleged sexual assault. According to People, Constand says Cosby is a "narcissist" who "missed cues" that she was gay.
"[Cosby's] reputation has already been tarnished, so I doubt that jurors would be inclined to believe him just because of his prior image," Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor, tells AP. Cosby, who previously claimed consensual sexual content with Constand under oath ten years ago, now faces up to ten years in prison.
