Bill Cosby has been found guilty by a California court of forcing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
US actor Bill Cosby (84) was found guilty in a civil lawsuit in the state of California on Tuesday (June 21) of sexually abusing a then 16-year-old over 45 years ago. ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 US dollars (around 476,000 euros). The civil process has dragged on since 2014.
The jury ultimately believed the statements of the victim Judy Huth, now 64 years old. In 1975, the then-teenage girl and a friend of Cosby’s were lured to the Playboy mansion after he met the two girls in a park. There he separated Huth from her friend and forced her to perform sexual acts in a bedroom.
Why no prison sentence?
Huth feels “encouraged” by the verdict, quotes “Variety”. “It’s been so many years, so many tears. It was just long overdue.” The length of time is also why Cosby, who was not present when the verdict was sent, got away with a fine. Because the offense is statute-barred, there was no criminal prosecution. However, the Child Victims Act in California allows criminal offenses to be prosecuted in cases of child abuse that have already been statute-barred.
Despite the verdict, Cosby’s attorneys have continued to plead his innocence, according to Variety. In their opinion, Huth’s demands were racially motivated. “Mr Cosby’s innocence remains and he will vigorously contest these false allegations,” the report said.
2018 conviction
In 2018, a Pennsylvania court convicted Cosby of sexually assaulting a woman named Andrea Constand and sentenced him to three to 10 years in prison. More than 60 women had made similar allegations, but most of them were considered statute-barred.
In 2021, after around three years in prison, Cosby was unexpectedly released from prison amid strong protests. The 2018 verdict was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court due to a procedural error and Cosby was released the same day.
Source: Stern
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