Pennsylvania judge rules Bill Cosby's sexual assault case can move forward

A judge in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, ruled Wednesday that criminal sexual assault charges against Bill Cosby will stand and proceed to trial.

Former Temple University employee Andrea Constand alleges that in 2004, Cosby drugged and raped her in his Pennsylvania home. Cosby says the encounter was consensual. In court Wednesday, Cosby's attorneys argued that 11 years ago, the district attorney at the time, Bruce Castor, approved an immunity deal in an oral agreement, USA Today reports. Prosecutors said Cosby did not have a valid deal, and Castor has no credibility; Cosby's attorneys responded by arguing prosecutors often can and do make deals with defendants that are binding on future prosecutors.

In 2005, Castor declined to press charges against Cosby, citing a lack of evidence. Constand and Cosby settled a civil suit in 2006.

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