Cuba abuse trial finally set to begin
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. will face trial on sex crimes charges in February, three years after his indictment, a Manhattan judge ruled Monday.
The Oscar-winning actor appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court in person for the first time since August 2020 in a black suit, black boots and a black surgical mask.
Gooding, 53, is accused of unwanted touching by three women in separate encounters. He’s charged with rape in a separate Manhattan Federal Court lawsuit.
Justice Curtis Farber, citing the case’s age, denied a request from Gooding’s lawyer to wait until May to hold the trial.
“This case has been on my calendar for two years going on three years,” Farber said. “This is a firm trial date, and it has to go.”
Gooding (photo) declined to speak with reporters. Seated alone in the courtroom’s second row before the hearing, he witnessed a man plead guilty to attempted murder. He covertly left the building via a back exit.
The “Boyz n the Hood” actor faces six misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse. The first two encounters allegedly occurred at Manhattan bars in 2018 and 2019. In one instance, prosecutors say, he groped a woman’s breast. In the other, they say he pinched a woman’s buttocks. Details of the third alleged encounter are not known.
More than 30 women have come forward with wide-ranging claims of sexual abuse against the actor that span more than a decade.
Justice Farber will permit some women whose uncharged allegations include aggravated sexual assault to testify at Gooding’s trial. Authorities say many more are ready and willing to take the stand to bolster the prosecution’s case.
On Monday, the “Jerry Maguire” actor’s lawyer complained that prosecutors had not yet shared surveillance-footage evidence regarding the third alleged encounter.
Assistant District Attorney Coleen Balbert said the video would be made available promptly to the defense team.
The parties will appear in court once more for a status conference on Jan. 24 before the trial start.
Gooding faces up to a year behind bars if convicted. He maintains his innocence.