Cuba Gooding Jr. charged with groping woman in Manhattan bar
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is escorted handcuffed by NYPD officers as he exits the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was charged on Thursday with groping a woman at a Manhattan bar last weekend, New York City police said.
The "Jerry Maguire" actor faces one misdemeanor account of forcible touching in an incident on Sunday when an unidentified woman said Gooding touched her breasts.
Gooding, who denies the accusation, emerged in handcuffs after being charged at a New York police facility. He did not speak to reporters.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is escorted handcuffed by NYPD officers as he exits the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
He was the latest Hollywood figure to be swept up in a sexual misconduct scandal that has roiled the entertainment industry in the last two years.
Gooding's attorney, Mark J. Heller, said he was "completely confident that (Gooding) will be totally exonerated." He told reporters that Gooding will enter a not guilty plea at an initial court appearance.
"There is not a scintilla of criminal culpability that can be attributed to Cuba Gooding Jr.," Heller told reporters.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. appears at his arraignment hearing in New York State Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. Steven Hirsch/Pool via REUTERS
Heller said he was "shocked and horrified" that the case was being prosecuted after he presented police with security video from the bar that the attorney said showed no criminal behavior by Gooding.
Gooding, 51, won a supporting actor Oscar in 1997 for "Jerry Maguire" and had roles in "A Few Good Men," "The Butler" and the television miniseries "The People v. O.J. Simpson."
The actor, who is divorced, is one of dozens of men in politics, entertainment, sports and the business world who have been accused of sexual misconduct since allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein triggered the #MeToo movement.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (center) leaves New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jefferson Siegel
Weinstein is to stand trial in New York later this year on charges of rape and forced oral sex involving two women. He has denied any non-consensual sex.
Former "House of Cards" actor Kevin Spacey in January pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man at a Massachusetts bar two years ago, while singer R. Kelly was charged in Chicago with sexually assaulting three teens and a woman.
Heller accused the woman who lodged the complaint against Gooding last weekend of seeking "simply to get their 15 minutes of fame" and said he hoped she would herself be prosecuted once Gooding's case is resolved.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. leaves New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jefferson Siegel
New York media reported on Thursday that another woman had come forward this week alleging inappropriate touching by Gooding in 2008.
Heller said Gooding had "no knowledge" of the alleged 2008 incident, which falls outside the statute of limitations for any potential charges.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. appears at his arraignment hearing in New York State Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. Alec Tabak/Pool via REUTERS
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Leslie Adler, Susan Thomas and Richard Chang)
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. appears at his arraignment hearing in New York State Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. Steven Hirsch/Pool via REUTERSActor Cuba Gooding Jr. (C) leaves New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. With him are his lawyers, Mark Heller (L) and Peter Toumbekis (R). REUTERS/Jefferson SiegelActor Cuba Gooding Jr. appears at his arraignment hearing in New York State Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. Alec Tabak/Pool via REUTERSActor Cuba Gooding Jr. is escorted handcuffed by NYPD officers as he exits the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo MunozActor Cuba Gooding Jr. is escorted handcuffed by NYPD officers as he exits the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo MunozActor Cuba Gooding Jr. is escorted handcuffed by NYPD officers as he exits the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo MunozActor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood in New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo MunozActor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood in New York, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Eduardo MunozActor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonActor Cuba Gooding Jr. waves as he arrives at New York City Police Department's (NYPD) Special Victims Division (SVU) in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City, U.S., June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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