Los Angeles County prosecutors declined today to file any criminal charges against comedian Bill Cosby over allegations that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at the Playboy mansion in 1974.
Prosecutors cited the statute of limitations in declining to pursue a case.
The alleged victim in the case, Judy Huth, filed a lawsuit against Cosby in Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month. Los Angeles police detectives met with Huth and her attorney, Gloria Allred, a few days later.
In a charge evaluation worksheet, Deputy District Attorney Victor Rodriguez noted that that the most applicable crime for the alleged misconduct under 1974 law would be a misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child under 18, but added that the statute of limitations in 1974 for a misdemeanor was one year.
“Therefore, given that 40 years have passed since the alleged incident, prosecution (on a misdemeanor count) … is declined due to the expiration of the statute of limitations,” the prosecutor wrote. “Even if there was an applicable felony charge, the statute of limitations that existed in 1974 for felony sex crimes was three years. Therefore, prosecution today for any potential felony sex crime from 1974 would also be barred.”
In her lawsuit, Huth contends she and a friend met Cosby in 1974 when they walked to the set of a film being shot in San Marino. She and her friend, who was 16 at the time, spoke to the actor and he invited them to his tennis club the following Saturday, according to the lawsuit.
When the girls went to the club, Cosby directed them to follow him to a house, where he gave them alcohol and they played billiards. He then led them to another house, which turned out to be the Playboy Mansion, according to the lawsuit.
At some point Huth told Cosby she needed to use the bathroom, according to the suit.
“Cosby directed her to a bathroom within a bedroom suite near the game room,” the lawsuit states. “When plaintiff emerged from the bathroom, she found Cosby sitting on the bed. He asked her to sit beside him. He then proceeded to sexually molest her by attempting to put his hand down her pants, and then taking her hand in his hand and performing a sex act on himself without her consent.”
Huth contends she has suffered “psychological damage and mental anguish” throughout her life, but only recently discovered the problems were “caused by the sexual abuse perpetrated by Cosby.”
The lawsuit alleges sexual battery, intention infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.
In recent months, at least 20 women have accused Cosby of sexually abusing them. Many also claim they were drugged or plied with alcohol.
Cosby attorney Martin Singer has denied all wrongdoing by his client.
Attorneys for Cosby filed a motion asking for dismissal of Huth’s lawsuit, saying the complaint amounts to “extortion.”
They state in their court papers that Huth tried and failed a decade ago to get money from a tabloid by telling the same story that is now the subject of her lawsuit.
In addition to seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, Cosby’s lawyers also want their client to be reimbursed for about $30,000 in legal fees and costs.
