NORRISTOWN, Pa. – Bill Cosby has been charged with sexual assault more than a decade after a former Temple University employee told police the comedian drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.
It's the first criminal charge against Cosby over his conduct with women, which has received new scrutiny in the past year.
The Montgomery County prosecutor announced Wednesday that Cosby had been charged with aggravated indecent assault, a felony. It's a reversal of a decision by a previous district attorney, who declined to charge Cosby in 2005.
Cosby arrived at a district court outside Philadelphia later in the day for his arraignment on a sexual assault charge and shook his head as reporters shouted questions at him. His bail was set at $1 million.
He stumbled briefly on his short walk from a dark-colored SUV to the door.
Prosecutors say the comedian urged the former Temple University employee to take pills he had at his home in 2004 and to drink wine. Kevin Steele, Montgomery County's first assistant district attorney, says the woman was paralyzed and unable to respond to his advances -- and that Cosby committed aggravated indecent assault.
Cosby's attorney said the sexual assault charge is unjustified and that he will be exonerated following a vigorous defense. The 78-year-old comedian previously said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.
Prosecutors reopened the case as new evidence was unsealed in the woman's related civil case and dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.