‘America’s Dad’ charged with aggravated sexual assault

US comedian and actor Bill Cosby was yesterday formally charged with the aggravated sexual assault of Andrea Constand in 2004. The alleged victim took a civil case against the well-known figure in American television in 2004 which led to more than forty other women coming forward to make further accusations of sexual assault.

Bill Cosby's mugshot released after appearing in court charged with sexual assault https://t.co/X6huhAX69Q pic.twitter.com/qdtGdW6MBT

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 30, 2015

According to the court papers accompanying the charge, the victim was a guest at Cosby’s home one evening in January 2004, when he gave her wine, urged her to take three blue pills, and then sexually assaulted her. By the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania, this charge came just days before the opportunity to bring formal charges to the accused would have been lost. Cosby's next hearing is set to take place on January 14th and if charged, he could face five to ten years in jail and a $25,000 dollar fine. The accuser Andrea Constand was unavailable to comment to the press but her lawyer commented that they welcome these charges:

“She feels that they believe her, and to any victim that is foremost in your mind – are people going to believe me?"

78-year-old Cosby, who was the father figure and star of the much-loved TV show 'The Cosby Show', denies the charges. The New York Times featured thirty-five of Cosby's accusers on their cover last summer. While he and his lawyers admit to marital infidelity, they say that sexual contact between Cosby and Andrea Constand was consensual. The judge has set bail at £1 million and Cosby has had to turn in his passport. Have you been following this story? Let us know what you think of it in the comments.