Accused of touching, the American actor Cuba Gooding Jr. escapes from prison

Cuba Gooding Jr. will not go to jail. Accused of forced touching and sexual harassment by twenty women, the star actor of Jerry Maguire and Oscar for best supporting role in 1997, was prosecuted after complaints from three of them.

But after complying with the terms of a deal reached with prosecutors handling the case six months ago, the 53-year-old comedian, who pleaded guilty to a single count of harassment, was spared any immediate jail time Thursday and He had his criminal record. clear, according to New York Post. He was originally facing a year in prison.

Jail sentence forgiven and offense reduced

Since 2019, twenty women accused Cuba Gooding Jr. of forcible contact or sexual harassment. He has also been in the spotlight since August 2020 for the civil complaint of a woman who accuses him of rape in a Manhattan hotel in 2013.

Last April, the actor admitted to forcibly kissing a woman in a nightclub in September 2018. This admission was part of a deal with prosecutors, who in return would have promised to spare him a prison sentence and reduce the sentence. classification of his crime. to harassment

“All other charges have been dismissed. In six months, if he stays out of trouble, this charge will be dropped and he will have no criminal record at the end of this,” his attorney Frank Rothman said in April.

Detoxification and correct behavior

For six months, Cuba Gooding Jr. strictly adhered to the terms of his agreement, namely undergoing alcohol rehabilitation and observing proper behavior.

Prosecutor Coleen Balbert said she has received “positive reports in the last six months” from the actor’s therapist. The actor even continues to treat him beyond the period required by the agreement, according to the prosecutor.

Some star accusers Jerry Maguire They criticized this decision, which they consider a too light sanction in view of the facts.

“Gooding is getting out with minimal repercussions” as his victims faced the consequences of their actions, one victim said in a statement Coleen Balbert read in court.