Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty in Massachusetts court over alleged sexual assault of teenager
Actor Kevin Spacey appeared at a Massachusetts court over a criminal charge that he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old male at a bar in Nantucket.
The Nantucket allegations were first raised by former Boston television journalist Heather Unruh, who told reporters the former House of Cardsstar groped her teenage son on July 7, 2016, at a restaurant and bar where he worked.
Spacey pleaded not guilty.
He is charged with indecent assault and battery, which is a felony. If convicted, the he faces a maximum of five years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender.
Spacey—wearing a paisley shirt, blue tie and a grey suit—entered the small standing-room only courtroom crowded with locals and journalists. He did not speak throughout the entirety of the hearing. Although Spacey said earlier that he would plead not guilty, he was not asked to enter a not guilty plea.
Under Massachusetts law does not require the defendant to state their not guilty plea.
In the arraignment hearing, Judge Thomas S Barrett granted Spacey’s attorney request to preserve cloud and cellphone information for six months after the date of the alleged crime for evidence. The evidence in question is a one-second Snapchat video the alleged victim sent to his girlfriend. The video footage reportedly shows a hand grabbing a clothed area.
The alleged victim is being represented by Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based lawyer with a prolific history of prosecuting predatory priests in the diocese.
The House of Cards actor tried to avoid appearing in court for his arraignment hearing, arguing that his “presence will amplify the negative publicity already generated in connection with this case,” in a motion filed by his legal team.
But on Monday, Judge Thomas S Barrett said Space will not be required to appear in physical form for his preliminary hearing. Instead, he must be available to reach by phone. Prosecutors did not request bail for Spacy. He was told to not contact the alleged victim or any witnesses.
His next court date is March 4.
Follow events from the court appearance as they happened
The former House of Cards star is set to appear in court on accusations that he groped an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket bar in 2016. The young man was working at Club Car as a bus boy.
Kevin Spacey has said he will plead not guilty to the charge.
Today's appearance in Massachusetts is the first criminal case brought against the 59-year-old Oscar-winner since other allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him in 2017.
Near the end of 2018, Kevin Spacey released a bizarre video commenting on the sexual misconduct allegations made against him. In the video, Spacey appears as his character in House of Cards, Frank Underwood.
You can watch the video and read more about how people reacted to it here:
Kevin Spacey is expected to arrive at Nantucket District court for his arraignment on sexual chargers. A pool of reporters are setting up outside the court house.
Mr Spacey's attorney had request District Judge Thomas Barnett, the judge presiding over his case, that the 59-year-old actor be allowed to waive his right to be physically present at today's arraignment. The attorneys argued that Mr Spaced lived out-of-state and said his presence would "amplify the negative publicity already generated" in the case. Judge Barnett denied the request.
Mr Spacey stirred further outrage for his apology after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual misconduct 31 years ago. Mr Rapp said the elder actor climbed on top of him at a party in 1986 before the "Rent" actor was able to flee the room. Mr Rapp was 14-years-old at the time.
In his statement, released on October 29, 2017, Mr Spacey said he owes Mr Rapp the "sincerest apology" for his "inappropriate" behaviour, after stating that he did not remember the alleged incident.
In that same statement, Mr Spacey decided to reveal publicly—for the very first time—that he "chooses" to "live as a gay man." He denied rumors about his sexual orientation for many years prior to the statement.
Several people criticised Mr Spacey's decision to come out as gay as a defense for his alleged sexual misconduct with a minor, citing that it furthers a damaging bigoted myth that pedophilia is intrinsic with homosexuality.
Columnist Kate Maltby wrote in CNN: "Now that a high-profile Hollywood star has chosen to publicly conflate his homosexuality with alleged sexual misconduct with a minor, how many more parents in small towns will whisper warnings to their children about their blameless gay teacher or lesbian church leader?"
The prosecutors are not asking for bail. They just request that Mr Spacey stays away from the alleged victim and witnesses. The actor has not said a word yet, but is nodding his head to the judge.
The attorneys are discussing the preservation of a piece of evidence, reportedly a video related to the alleged groping incident. Judge Barnett granted the motion to preserve the cloud and cell phone information for July 7 and July 8, 2016 on the victim's phone, which is during the time the alleged crime took place.
The evidence argued in court is regarding a one-second Snapchat showing a hand on some clothes. The video was sent in a series of text messages between the victim and his girlfriend regarding Mr Spacey's groping his genitals at a Nantucket bar. The text messages reportedly took place during the incident. The girlfriend reportedly did not believe the victim, and in response, the victim sent the Snapchat video.
