This sad story just keeps getting worse.

Scott Jaschik reports at Inside Higher Ed.

Cosby Charged in Case of Temple U Employee

Pennsylvania authorities have filed criminal charges of felony indecent assault against Bill Cosby in regard to an incident involving a former employee of Temple University. While many women have publicly accused the comedian of raping them, most of the allegations involve interactions for which statutes of limitations have expired. Pennsylvania, however, has a longer statute of limitations, so prosecutors were free to charge him — at least before the new year.

Cosby is a Temple alumnus and longtime donor and trustee (although he quit that position amid the recent scandal). The victim in the case, Andrea Constand (who has spoken out about her charges), formerly was director of operations for Temple’s women’s basketball team. She met Cosby several times between 2001 and 2004, and she said Cosby contacted her at her office to discuss university-related matters. The statement with the charges said that they met several times, and that she considered Cosby, 37 years older, to be a friend and a mentor.

The accusations largely stem from an incident in early 2004 in which Constand said she went to Cosby’s home, at his invitation, to talk about her career. She said that Cosby gave her pills and wine and told her to relax and take the pills. She then remembers feeling “blurry” and “nauseous” and being unable to move, and that Cosby fondled her, penetrated her vagina with his fingers and put her hands on his penis. She says that she did not consent to any of these activities, but was unable to move much after taking the pills.

Constand reported the case in 2005 to authorities, who investigated. At that time, county officials said, Cosby described the encounter as consensual, but admitted to giving Constand one and one-half pills.

At that time, authorities did not charge Cosby, but the case was reopened after reports of affidavits in which he admitted to giving women pills and then having sex with them.