Bill Cosby Caught in Child Abuse Trap

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright December 2, 2014
All Rights Reserved.                                     

              Thought he skirted the arm of American justice, 77-year-old comedian Bill Cosby hoped that he was saved by the so-called statute-of-limitations when it came to rape or unlawful imprisonment.  When at least 13 women came forward with allegations of rape and drugging, Cosby’s attorney Martin Singer issued an ambiguous denial, insisting the iconic star of the 1970s “Cosby Show” “does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment.” Refusing to comment or to actually deny the allegations prompted more women to finally come forward to tell their stories of drugging and rape, all following the same pattern.  It didn’t help watching Cosby remain mute Nov. 20 to PBS’s Scott Simon’s questions about Andrea Constand’s drugging and rape allegations.  Singer hoped that he could run out the clock, using vague denials to cover recently surfaced allegations of drugging and rape.

            With 13 grown women coming forward, at least a few of them figured out that there’s no statue-of-limitations when it comes to child sexual abuse.  Filing suit in Los Angeles Superior Court Dec. 14, Judy Huth alleges she was 15 when Cosby fed her alcoholic beverages at Hugh Hefner’s Hollywood Playboy Mansion, then insisted he manually masturbate him.  Throwing Singer for a loop, Huth’s child sexual abuse lawsuit carries severe penalities should she prove her case.  Cosby settled a case out of court in 2006 for an undisclosed sum with Adrea Constand who claimd Cosby drugged and raped her in 2004.  If recent allegations by some 13 women were really specious, Singer would have filed slander and defamation suits on behalf of Cosby.  Singer insists that all past and current allegations were discredited because his client was never charged with a crime..  Singer knows that victims of rape often remain silent for years, perhaps lifetimes.

            Each of the 13 women coming forward have similar stories of Cosby drugging them before the sexual assault.  Singer hasn’t denied the charges, only insists they’ve been discredited because none of the women filed charges. Singer isn’t sure what to do with allegations of child sexual abuse because district attorneys have the authority to file criminal charges against Cosby.  Filing suit in civil court opens the possibility that the DA may find enough evidence to charge Cosby with felony child sexual abuse.  With so many victims coming forward, it’s getting more difficult for Singer to take the same plausible deniability, discrediting victims for not filing civil suits or criminal charges in the past.  Cosby hoped he could return to his roadshow or develop projects with networks, only to find himself radioactive.  \Once considered “America’s Dad,” Cosby’s old fans have difficulty seeing their Hollywood idol as a serial rapist.

            Fighting shame and humiliation, rape victims often feel they can’t come forward without getting blamed for the incident.  All of Cosby’s victims follow the same pattern of getting drugged and sexually attacked.  Whether any of the victims get their day in court remains unknown.  After paying off Andres Constand out-of-court in 2006, Cosby was able to keep the allegations from going public. Huff’s suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court may trigger another former 15-year-old Renita Chaney Hill now living in Pittsburgh from filing more charges for drugging and raping her as a minor.  Cosby’s MO of drugging and sexually molesting victims warrants more prosecutions, regardless of scant or dated evidence.  Deliberately drugging victims amounts of chemical hostage-taking, carrying its own penalties regardless of sexual assault allegations.  Exploiting underage or barely legal women shows Cosby’s psychopathic mindset.

            Before Huff’s case approaches court, she shouldn't yield to the temptation of an out-of-court settlement, like Constand in 2006.  Exposing Cosby as a serial rapist should help prevent future episodes where the well-heeled pay their way out of various crimes.  Coming out of the woodwork, Cosby’s victims finally want their day in court.  If the charges were really spurious, Singer would file slander and defamation suits all over the place.  “This traumatic incident, at such a tender age, has caused psychological damage and mental anguish for (Huth) that has caused significant problems throughout her life,” claimed her lawsuit filed in Los Angeles..  With all the victims sharing the same stories, it’s more difficult for Singer to keep up the denials, discrediting victims.  Huff’s case should give Hill, another minor at the time of the abuse, the courage to move ahead with her own sexual abuse case against the 77-year-old comedian.

About the Author 

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.