Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. has admitted kissing a woman forcibly in a plea bargain that is expected to end criminal proceedings against him.
The former Academy Award winner pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of forcibly kissing a waitress at a nightclub in 2018.
Gooding Jr must continue to receive psychological counseling for six months and avoid any further arrests.
If he does, he can rescind his confession and instead plead guilty to receive a lesser penalty for the harassment, and if not, he could face up to a year in prison.
Gooding Jr., 54, won an Academy Award for his role in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, and is also known for films including Boyz N The Hood and Men of Honor.
More than 20 women have accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted touching, and three charges have led to criminal charges being brought against him.
His attorney, Frank Rothman, said the plea deal meant the three charges were dropped.
The two women who brought the other charges accused him of groping them in 2018 and 2019.
“a piece of meat”
“Within six months, if he stays out of trouble, that charge will be withdrawn,” Rothman told AFP [التي أقر بارتكابها]And eventually he won’t have a criminal record.”
“I apologize for making anyone feel inappropriately touched,” the US representative said in court on Wednesday.
He added, “I’m a celebrity, I connect with people. I never want them to feel offended or uncomfortable in any way.”
One of the other two women spoke in court on Wednesday, explaining how Gooding Jr grabbed her breasts: “As if I was a piece of meat for dinner that night.”
“I feel very sad and at a loss for what I can do,” she added.
Gooding Jr is still facing a civil lawsuit brought by a woman who accused him of raping her twice in 2013, which he denied.
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