Bill Cosby Files Motion to Dismiss Sexual Assault Charges

1 minute read
US-ENTERTAINMENT-TELEVISION-CRIME-COSBY
US comedian Bill Cosby leaves December 30, 2015 the Court House in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania after arraignment on charges of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby was arraigned over an incident that took place in 2004 -- the first criminal charge filed against the actor after dozens of women claimed abuse.Kena Betancur—AFP/Getty Images
By Sarah Begley

Bill Cosby has filed a motion to dismiss all of the sexual assault charges against him, arguing that the Montgomery County District Attorney violated a 2005 agreement not to prosecute.

“The charges brought on December 30, 2015 violate an express agreement made by the Montgomery County District Attorney in 2005, in which the Commonwealth agreed that Mr. Cosby would never be prosecuted with respect to the allegations of sexual assault made by complainant Andrea Constand,” the motion reads, according to NBC Philadelphia.

“This agreement, made for the express purpose of inducing Mr. Cosby to testify fully in Ms. Constand’s civil litigation against him, led Mr. Cosby to give deposition testimony in 2005 and 2006 without invocation of his Constitutional rights against self-incrimination.”

The charges in question are the first criminal ones brought against Cosby, who has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. The Montgomery County District Attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

[NBC Philadelphia]

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com