Bill Cosby will be charged for aggravated indecent assault, a first degree felony, over a sexual assault accusation stemming from 2004.
An arrest warrant for the comedian was issued over a case that found he drugged and sexually violated a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, at his Philadelphia home over a decade ago.
Montgomery Country officials released a statement on Wednesday morning saying they interviewed witnesses and examined evidence before issuing the warrant and are now able to "seek justice on behalf of the victim."
A judge originally dismissed the case in 2005. However, the charges filed today are a result of new evidence that came to light beginning in July 2015. After determining the statute of limitations regarding the potential criminal offense had not yet expired, an investigation was reopened. The statute of limitation for aggravated indecent assault is twelve years from the incident.
According to the evidence, Cosby had established a relationship with Constand and invited her to his Philadelphia home, but when he made sexual advances toward her, she refused. He then urged her to drink wine and take three blue pills after which she lost total mobility, and he took advantage of her.
The paperwork that was unsealed also details Cosby's 2005 deposition, including the moment when he was asked by the Constand's attorney, "When you got the Quaaludes, was it in your mind that you were going to use these Quaaludes for young women that you wanted to have sex with?"
Cosby replied, "Yes." The 77-year-old also testified that he gave Constand three half-pills of Benadryl, all of which he claimed to have given her with her consent.
Constand's attorney released a statement Wednesday morning, saying: "On behalf of our client, Andrea Constand we wish to express our appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, the County Detectives and the Cheltenham Police Department for the consideration and courtesy they have shown Andrea during this difficult time. We have the utmost confidence in Mr. Steele, Ms. Feden and their team, who have impressed us with their professionalism. In that this matter is now being pursued in the criminal justice system, we will not comment further."
Dozens of women have since come forward with similar accusations about the entertainer drugging and sexually assaulting them without permission. However, Cosby has continued to deny any of the allegations.
"I have been in this business 52 years and I've never seen anything like this," he said on ABC's Good Morning America in June. "Reality is the situation and I can't speak. I really don't know about what I'm going to do tomorrow."
In fact, he decided to file counter-suits against seven of his accusers, alleging in a claim filed earlier this month that the ladies have "engaged in a campaign to assassinate Mr. Cosby's reputation and character" with their false accusations.
It continued, "Despite the recent barrage of unsubstantiated accusations, Mr. Cosby has never been criminally charged nor found liable by any Court for any sexual misconduct."
An arraignment for Cosby's charge will take place Wednesday at 4 p.m. A maximum penalty for aggravated indecent assault is punishable by 5-10 years behind bars and a $25,000 fine.