Ags2000
02-17-2005, 08:55 PM
By MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA - Bill Cosby will not face charges stemming from a woman's allegation he fondled her, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Authorities found "insufficient credible and admissible evidence" to support the woman's claims, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said in a statement
A former Temple University employee, who now lives in her native Ontario, told Canadian authorities last month that Cosby gave her medication that made her feel dizzy, then fondled her at his suburban Philadelphia home after a dinner out with friends in January 2004.
She said she later awoke to find her bra undone and her clothes in disarray.
Cosby has denied the allegations.
Castor has said that the accuser's yearlong delay in coming forward, and her contact with Cosby in the past year, weighed in the comedian's favor.
The prosecutor said he also reviewed claims by other people that Cosby had "behaved inappropriately" toward them, but that detectives could find no instance "where anyone complained to law enforcement of conduct which would constitute a criminal offense."
The woman's attorney blasted Castor for failing to notify her before announcing his decision.
"I think this is so disrespectful. We have a law in Pennsylvania that he's supposed to notify crime victims," lawyer Dolores M. Troiani said.
Castor would not elaborate on the reasons for his decision for fear his comments would be used as evidence in any possible civil lawsuit.
"Much exists in this investigation that could be used (by others) to portray persons on both sides of the issue in a less-than-flattering light," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050217/ap_en_ce/bill_cosby
D
PHILADELPHIA - Bill Cosby will not face charges stemming from a woman's allegation he fondled her, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Authorities found "insufficient credible and admissible evidence" to support the woman's claims, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said in a statement
A former Temple University employee, who now lives in her native Ontario, told Canadian authorities last month that Cosby gave her medication that made her feel dizzy, then fondled her at his suburban Philadelphia home after a dinner out with friends in January 2004.
She said she later awoke to find her bra undone and her clothes in disarray.
Cosby has denied the allegations.
Castor has said that the accuser's yearlong delay in coming forward, and her contact with Cosby in the past year, weighed in the comedian's favor.
The prosecutor said he also reviewed claims by other people that Cosby had "behaved inappropriately" toward them, but that detectives could find no instance "where anyone complained to law enforcement of conduct which would constitute a criminal offense."
The woman's attorney blasted Castor for failing to notify her before announcing his decision.
"I think this is so disrespectful. We have a law in Pennsylvania that he's supposed to notify crime victims," lawyer Dolores M. Troiani said.
Castor would not elaborate on the reasons for his decision for fear his comments would be used as evidence in any possible civil lawsuit.
"Much exists in this investigation that could be used (by others) to portray persons on both sides of the issue in a less-than-flattering light," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050217/ap_en_ce/bill_cosby
D