It was a hard week for Bill Cosby after a Pennsylvania judge found enough evidence for him to proceed with a criminal trial. Cosby was accused of sexual charges 10 years ago, and this is the first time that he would face his legal troubles in court.
During a preliminary hearing on May 24, Tuesday, a Pennsylvania judge established sufficient evidence to go on with Cosby's trial. He faces three counts of felony second-degree aggravated indecent assault charges that could put him in jail for up to 30 years, according to CNN.
"The evidence presented today was evidence of nothing. They had 12 years to bring an accuser to confront Mr. Cosby. They chose not to," Cosby's attorney Brian McMonagle told the publication.
"There was no evidence of a crime here. And the inconsistencies that plagued this investigation from the beginning continue to plague it now. This case should end immediately."
Cosby's lawyers think that the court's decision to move on with the trial was inappropriate. The felonies stem from a 2004 case where an ex-Temple University employee Andrea Constand stepped out in public to accuse Cosby of sexual misconduct.
Constand was the first person to allege Cosby of sexual assault in 2004. She filed a complaint to the police that time, but authorities did not file any charges to the disgraced actor.
The Montgomery County District attorney at the time Bruce Castor dismissed the sexual assault charges against Cosby due to insufficient credible and admissible evidence. In 2006, Cosby and Constand reached a civil agreement. However, the case was reopened after new evidences surfaced that include Cosby's statements in a 2005 deposition.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele also pushed Cosby's case as soon as he occupied the post as a new district attorney. The 78-year-old actor faced three felonies and was arraigned in December. He was discharged on a $1 million bond and did not enter a plea.
Steele announced that the court only wants to prove that the defendant is connected to the crime and a crime was committed. Until today, Cosby and his lawyers have dismissed the sexual assault allegations.
Cosby filed a lawsuit against Constand in February due to violation of their agreement. More than 50 women have filed sexual misconduct charges against him. However, he has not faced a trial since then due to the statutes of limitations.
On May 23, Monday, Cosby was denied of trying to halt the proceedings by pursuing an appeal. The Supreme Court of the Keystone state announced that his application for an appeal was denied, Deadline reported.
Cosby tried to stop the proceedings for the second time based on the no-prosecution agreement with the former D.A. in Pennsylvania Montgometry County.
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