Charges Against Bill Cosby In 2004 Sexual Assault Case

Bill Cosby has been charged and an arrest warrant has been issued against him for alleged sexual assault of a Temple University woman employee in 2004.

USA Today reports that over 60 women have accused Cosby of sexually assaulting them but charges have been filed for first time against the entertainer in the case of alleged sexual assault of Andrea Constand, the former operations manager of Temple University's women's basketball team. In the past, charges were not brought in by former Montgomery County DA who cited inadequate evidence in the case.

The incumbent DA elect of the county, Kevin R. Steele informed at a press conference on Wednesday that evidence in the case warrants charging Cosby for sexual assault. Steele said that wine and pills were provided to the victim that prevented her from resisting Cosby's advances or agree to have sex.

People detailed how the alleged assault unfolded. Constand, who met Cosby in 2002, was invited by the latter to his Pennsylvania mansion in January 2004 to discuss her career. When she expressed feeling stressed about making a career decision, Cosby offered her three blue pills that left her dizzy. Cosby then allegedly touched and sexually assaulted her, she claimed. Constand reported the incident a year after it happened. Cosby has denied the allegations and maintained that the incident was consensual.

Constand's legal representatives said they were grateful to the DA's office but did not comment. Constand now lives in Canada. Cosby is scheduled to be arraigned at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence up to 10 years.