Cuba Gooding Jr. was arraigned Thursday on new charges related to a third alleged sex abuse victim as Manhattan prosecutors revealed that more women have come forward with claims against the actor.
“Not guilty,” said the “Jerry Maguire” star, who was escorted into the courtroom in cuffs. Gooding faces a total of six misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and sex abuse stemming from three accusers’ allegations.
During the brief hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court, Assistant DA Jenna Long accused the defense team of leaking an edited video to TMZ, which shows the actor tapping the backside of TAO nightclub server Natasha Ashworth on October 24, 2018.
“We’ve provided defense counsel a short clip from one of the incidents and, within 24 hours, that video had been released to the media,” Long told Justice Curtis Farber. “We feel that the release is inappropriate and an effort to taint the jury pool. The video released was also incomplete and only shows conduct from immediately after the charged incident.”
He was previously indicted for touching Ashworth’s buttocks and for squeezing the breast of a 30-year-old accuser in June at the Moxy hotel.
Prosecutors offered no description of the newest allegation, but court papers say he subjected a woman to “sexual contact without consent” at LAVO on the Upper East Side between 11:15 p.m. September 9 and 12:10 a.m. September 10, 2018.
Long also said that since the last court date, several additional women have come forward with sexual misconduct claims, and they are probing their potential as Molineux witnesses. A judge can permit these witnesses to testify at trial to misconduct for which a defendant is not charged.
Prosecutors previously filed a motion asking a judge to let them introduce 12 Molineux witnesses who allege that Gooding touched them inappropriately.
At least 17 accusers have come forward, according to prosecutors.
Defense lawyers Mark Heller and Peter Toumbekis denied releasing the video and blasted prosecutors for charging Gooding in the first place.
Heller said that videos of each incident show that no crime occurred.
“This is clearly a case of malicious prosecution and we are confident that as soon as this case is dismissed, we will hold the city of New York and the accusers accountable for their conduct,” Heller said outside the courthouse.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Investors don’t find Ghana’s oil field or upstream sector attractive anymore – Nana Amoasi VII
2 hours -
We’ll not accept these unscrupulous acts – Kwesi Kwarteng on alleged distribution of expired rice to SHSs
2 hours -
Frimpong Manso wins NASCO Coach of the Month award for October
3 hours -
Kotoko’s Albert Amoah wins NASCO POTM for October
3 hours -
Paradox of Elitism: Why Ghana’s brightest minds fall short in leadership
3 hours -
EPA, UNESCO to advance plan to guard Lake Bosomtwe from further degradation
4 hours -
The Great Exodus: How Ghana’s best and brightest are trapped in a cycle of modern slavery
4 hours -
Ronica Sings returns with ‘Covenant Keeping God’
4 hours -
The Uneven Path Toward Cheaper Digital Remittances: A Focus on Ghana
4 hours -
Ogagus nominated A&R of the Year at the 2024 Beatz Awards
4 hours -
Is Ghana on the brink of becoming a failed state?
4 hours -
There is no order against The Speaker – Thaddeus Sory
4 hours -
I have observed his good and unifying conduct – Kufuor on Bawumia
4 hours -
Bawumia’s understanding of technology and global trends is what we need as a country – Kufuor
4 hours -
It is the way to go – ex-President Kufuor hails Bawumia railway development plan
4 hours