2015 really wasn’t Bill Cosby’s year.

Almost overnight the once-beloved television father became widely known as a sexual predator, who unbeknownst to most of America spent the better part of five decades drugging and sexually assaulting young women who once viewed him as their idol. Now after months of highly-publicized exposes, harrowing accounts from over 50 women, and half a dozen civil lawsuits, Cosby is finally facing felony criminal charges for the only assault that’s still capable of putting the disgraced comedian behind bars.

In a press conference Wednesday, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania prosecutor Kevin Steele announced a single charge of aggravated indecent assault against Cosby, stemming from the 2004 assault of a former Temple University employee. The victim, Andrea Constand, claims Cosby drugged and assaulted her in his Elkins Park mansion. The announcement was a relief for many who anxiously watched the approach of the January 16 deadline, that would have marked the end of the 12-year-statute of limitations for trying the case.

Bill Cosby mugshot released after actor freed on $1M bail: https://t.co/IceUQBtARz pic.twitter.com/ZtPARPwjmz

— The Hill (@thehill) December 30, 2015

Constand worked at the University as an operations manager for the women’s basketball team when she caught Cosby’s eye. Cosby reportedly said he wanted her the minute he saw her. After becoming her mentor and friend, Cosby repeatedly made sexual advances toward her that were not reciprocated. So one night Cosby allegedly called her over to his home to discuss “her career plans” and offered her some pills to help her relax. Within 30 minutes Constand told police she’d loss the feeling in her legs, and Cosby was fondling her breasts and putting his hands down her pants.

After she reported the assault to police, the case quickly became a game of “he said/she said” for investigators. However, some newly unsealed court documents revealed new evidence pertinent to the case, and prosecutors had what they needed to reopen the case.

Cosby has never been convicted of sexual assault, despite the dozens of eerily similar claims from women who say he gave them quaaludes and then forced himself on them. Many of the women waited too long to press charges, not knowing that their years of silence wasted precious time that they could have used before the statutes of limitations ticked away.

To this day Cosby denies any wrongdoing, and has accused his accusers of defamation.

Cosby will not return to court until January 14, but is currently out on a $1 million bail. If convicted he could face up to ten years in jail and a $25,000 fine. Even if found not guilty, Cosby’s reputation and career are beyond repair, and the civil lawsuits still pending against him could end up stripping the former star of his fortune.

Without a doubt the upcoming legal proceedings will likely be the most highly anticipated cases of the new year.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Bill Cosby Charged With Felony Sexual Assault Over 2004 Case appeared first on Law Street.

Bill Cosby.

You used to be able to say that name and conjure up happy memories of family-friendly sitcom episodes, flamboyant knitted sweaters, or pudding pops. But not anymore.

Now America’s former “favorite dad” has become synonymous with drugging women with quaaludes and raping them, after more than 50 women came forward to accuse the comedian of sexual assault. As a result, Cosby is lashing out by filing a defamation lawsuit against seven of his accusers, claiming they ruined his reputation for “financial gain.”

The lawsuit filed Monday is a counterclaim to a civil lawsuit filed by Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis, and Angela Leslie. The seven women had joined together in a defamation suit initially filed last year by three accusers against Cosby in a federal court in his home state of Massachusetts. According to USA Today, it is currently the largest of the half dozen civil lawsuits filed against Cosby in recent months.

In a statement tweeted Monday, Cosby’s lawyer Monique Pressley wrote,

Mr. Cosby states plainly that he neither drugged no sexually assaulted the defendants and that each defendant has maliciously and knowingly published multiple false statements and accusations from Fall 2014 through the current day in an effort to cause damage to Mr. Cosby’s reputation and to extract financial gains.

My statement re today’s lawsuit filed by @BillCosby against all 7 accusers in Massachusetts lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/XRYoV4gXpC

— Monique Pressley (@MoniquePressley) December 14, 2015

Cosby’s lawsuit comes across as a last-ditch effort to save himself from shelling out a fortune to the dozens of women who claim he assaulted them in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Statutes of limitations for rape prevented the 78-year-old from facing any legal charges for the assaults. Therefore many of his accusers have now opted to file civil lawsuits instead. Cosby, however, has repeatedly denied claims of any wrongdoing.

According to unsealed court documents, Cosby testified in 2005 that he had obtained the sedative drug Quaaludes, with the intention of giving them to young women in order to have sex with him. This revelation came as shock to many who had came to the defense of the former star amidst the allegations.

While we’ll never see Cosby criminally charged with assaulting these women, there is some hope for justice in the civil cases currently pending. However, his defamation suit makes it clear that he doesn’t plan to go down without a fight.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Bill Cosby Countersues Seven Rape Accusers For Defamation appeared first on Law Street.