American actor Cuba Gooding Jr. has pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching a woman at a New York nightclub in 2018 in a deal that is likely to keep him out of jail.
The agreement with prosecutors stipulates that if the Oscar-winning actor continues to undergo court-ordered counseling for six months, he can then withdraw his misdemǝanor plea and plead guilty to a lesser violation of harassment but if he does not comply, he faces up to a one-year jail term.
A woman accused Gooding Jr. of touching her breast without consent at a rooftop bar. After being arrested for that accusation, an additional charge was added after a woman alleged that the actor kissed her without consent at the LAVO nightclub.
A third allegation was included when a female server at TAO Downtown accused the Boyz In The Hood star of pinching her buttocks without permission in 2018. Gooding Jr. was indicted by a grand jury in 2019, and a trial was scheduled for the following year.
At least 30 women came forward, claiming that Gooding Jr. had forcibly touched them as well according to reports in August 2020.
Upon the original arrest, Gooding Jr. initially pleaded not guilty to all charges. In the plea deal, Gooding Jr. admitted to kissing the woman at LAVO without consent, as well as the two other incidents.
According to prosecutors, In 2019, Gooding Jr. began an alcohol and behavior modification treatment and will continue the treatment for six months as part of the deal, according to prosecutors. He also cannot have any new arrests during that period.
Failure to adhere to the terms may result in a year in jail. If he complies within the allotted time, Gooding Jr. can reportedly change the plea to second-degree harassment with a sentence for time served.
“Cuba Gooding Jr. entered into a re-pleader today whereby in six months his case will be disposed of with a violation, which is not a crime, resulting in no criminal record,” said Peter Toumbekis, Gooding Jr.’s attorney.
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