Bill Cosby ordered to stand trial for 2004 sexual assault allegations

A Pennsylvania judge ruled there is enough evidence to send Cosby to trial on all charges

By Sophia Tesfaye

Senior Politics Editor

Published May 24, 2016 5:21PM (EDT)

  (AP/Matt Rourke)
(AP/Matt Rourke)

A Pennsylvania judge ruled that Bill Cosby must stand trial for sexual assault allegations for the first time ever.

District Judge Elizabeth McHugh ruled at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday that there is enough evidence, including a 2005 police report, for the sexual assault case against the 78-year-old Cosby to continue. Cosby’s accuser Andrea Constand did not testify on Tuesday. Judge McHugh took less than 10 minutes to make her decision, NBC News reported.

Although the once iconic comedian is alleged to have sexual assaulted dozens of women, Constand's case is the only one for which he is facing criminal charges.

Cosby was charged in December with three counts of felony assault, but has since been free on $1 million bail. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of violating Constand while she could not give consent, as she alleges.

Cosby is expected to return to court for his arraignment on July 20, according to the Associated Press.


By Sophia Tesfaye

Sophia Tesfaye is Salon's senior editor for news and politics, and resides in Washington, D.C. You can find her on Twitter at @SophiaTesfaye.

MORE FROM Sophia Tesfaye


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Bill Cosby Criminal Criminal Justice Law Rape Sexual Assualt Trial