Reuters/Eric Thayer
Bill Cosby was charged with sexual assault in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on Wednesday. District Attorney Kevin Steele said his office found evidence that Cosby drugged and digitally penetrated Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, at his home in 2004.
"In the course of their association, the victim came to consider Mr. Cosby a mentor and a friend," Steele said, adding that Cosby allegedly gave Constand pills and wine, "the effect of which rendered her unable to move."
The alleged use of quaaludes led Steele to raise the indecent assault charge to be aggravated, which is a first-degree felony. A warrant has been issued for Cosby's arrest. Constand reported the incident in 2005, which left prosecutors until Jan. 1, 2016 to charge Cosby before the 12-year statute of limitations ran out.
Constand, who now lives in Toronto, was working at the time as an operations manager for Temple University's women's basketball team at the time. Cosby was a long-time booster of Temple University.
Cosby has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct by more than 50 other women, whose allegations date as far back as 1969. Cosby is currently being sued in civil court for defamation by several accusers, including Constand, who say he damaged their reputations by calling them liars.