In a bizarre turn of events, Oscar winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Has turned himself in and was arrested on charges he groped a woman in an encounter at a New York City night spot that appears to have been caught on video.
The award winning star of “Jerry Maguire” denies the allegations and pleaded not guilty to forcible touching and sexual abuse charges at a night court arraignment. He was released on his own recognizance after about six hours in police custody.
An un-identified 29-year-old woman told police that Gooding had placed his hand on her breast and squeezed it without her consent Sunday night at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge. The woman said she believed Gooding was intoxicated.
In fact there is a video, which is going viral from inside the bar on the night in question appears to show Gooding putting his hand on or near a woman’s leg and breast as they sit on a couch with another woman between them.
On the hearing day, Gooding wore a dark blue suit, smiled and waved as he walked into a police station Thursday afternoon to meet with special victims investigators. Inside, they took his fingerprints and a mug shot before leading him out in handcuffs.
Later, Gooding sat on a wooden bench in the front row of an austere courtroom, his hands cuffed behind his back and his face turned serious as he waited for his case to be called. As a detective uncuffed him, he uncurled his hands and shook them out.
The NYPD has not identified the accuser.
Cuba Gooding Jr. Charged And Released In Groping Case
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