Bill Cosby has been charged in a 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. A Pennsylvania D.A. formally charged him with felony aggravated incident assault Wednesday (Dec. 30) morning, Buzzfeed reports.
Constand was among the first in what became dozens of women accusing him of rape, and attempted sexual assault. The statute of limitations for many of the incidents, which occurred decades ago, has already passed.
Reports People:
Constand was not available for comment but one of her attorneys expressed gratitude toward the prosecutor.
“Obviously we appreciate the expression of confidence in her,” says Dolores Troiani of her client, Constand, 42, who is now a massage therapist in Ontario, Canada. “We’ll have to see what happens. We hope justice will be done. We will cooperate fully.”
Cosby has previously said what happened between him and Constand was consensual, but in new court filings last summer 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.
The statute of limitations to charge Cosby runs out in January.
Troiani exclusively told PEOPLE in September that if prosecutors decided to arrest Cosby for the alleged assault, Constand would fully cooperate.
“I think she’d a very strong lady,” Troiani said. “She’ll do whatever she needs to do, whatever they ask of her.”
Though Cosby has said the sex was consensual, Constand, a lesbian who was dating a woman at the time, says he drugged and raped her. Cosby has admitted to using quaaludes for sex, but maintains the women were aware.
The 78-year-old comedian is attempting to fight back at some of the accusations. He filed a defamation lawsuit against model Beverly Johnson who accused him of drugging her with the intentions of sex.
Cosby is expected to be arraigned on the charges in Constand’s case today. He has yet to comment.
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Photo: WENN
