The release from prison of American actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who escaped prison in the trial for sexual harassment, sparked protests from women who accused him of groping, unwanted kisses and other inappropriate behavior.
The Oscar-winning actor avoided arrest by meeting the terms of a conditional plea deal, in which he pleaded guilty to charges related to just one of the charges that prosecutors said were of at least 30 women.
Many of these situations occurred in New York City entertainment venues.
Manhattan’s assistant attorney Coleen Balbert told a judge on Thursday that since the settlement was reached in April, Gooding has stayed out of trouble and has gone through six months of alcohol and behavioral therapy.
This allowed him to withdraw his guilty plea for forcibly kissing a waitress at a Manhattan nightclub in 2018, and instead plead a non-criminal harassment violation.
The star of such films as “Jerry Maguire”, “Boyz N the Hood” and “Radio” avoided other punishments and a criminal record in this way.
“This settlement looks like a misstep,” said Kelsey Herbert, a neuroscience student whose allegation that Gooding groped her in a nightclub led to his arrest in 2019, but is not part of his plea.
“After three long years of trying to hold Mr. Gooding responsible for touching my chest without my consent, it is more disappointing than words can say that my case has been dropped in court,” added Kelsey Harbert, who cried at times during your statements in court.
Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein on trial for sex crimes
The performer, who won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film “Jerry Maguire”, was first arrested in June 2019 following the Times Square bar incident and was later released on bail.
Cuba Gooding Jr. He was also accused of groping a waitress’ buttocks at a New York restaurant in October 2018 and of “unconsent sexual contact” at a nightclub, also in New York.
In a separate case, Cuba Gooding Jr. was charged in civil court with sexual rape by an anonymous whistleblower, a crime for which $6 million (about $5.5 million) in damages is still outstanding.
Gooding, along with other Hollywood heavyweights, was denounced by the #MeToo movement, which exploded five years ago.
While Gooding was in court on Thursday closing his case, another Oscar-winning actor, Kevin Spacey, was on trial on the same block in a civil suit accusing him of sexually abusing actor Anthony Rapp.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, former studio head Harvey Weinstein and ‘That 70’s Show’ star Danny Masterson are on trial in separate rape cases.
Weinstein was convicted of similar charges in New York in 2020 and is serving a 23-year prison term.
Source: DN
