Judge orders Mohegan Sun executive to testify at Bill Cosby rape trial
Official was working for Foxwoods at time of 2003 meeting
A New London judge on Tuesday ordered entertainment executive Thomas L. Cantone, who has been luring top acts to Connecticut casinos for the past two decades, to testify at the upcoming rape trial of Bill Cosby in Norristown, Pa.
Cantone, of Groton, is expected to be called to the witness stand by Cosby’s defense on April 23 and questioned about having dinner with Cosby and the alleged victim, Andrea Constand, in a Foxwoods hotel room in November 2003. Constand alleges that two months later, in January 2004, Cosby sexually assaulted her at his mansion in Elkins Park, Pa., after giving her three pills “to relax” that rendered her unconscious.
Cantone is senior vice president of sports and entertainment for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Before joining Mohegan Sun in 2007, Cantone directed entertainment operations at Foxwoods for nine years.
Documents submitted to a New London judge to secure Cantone’s appearance indicate the defense will call on Cantone as it attempts to convince a jury that Constand and Cosby had a consensual intimate relationship.
Cantone will be asked to describe the layout of the Foxwoods hotel room in order to rebut Constand’s previous testimony that she sat on Cosby’s bed because there was nowhere else to sit. Cosby’s first trial in the case, in June 2017, ended in a mistrial when the jury was unable to agree on a verdict.
“As a manager of Foxwoods Resort, as well as a participant in the dinner in Mr. Cosby’s room, Mr. Cantone will be expected to provide material testimony regarding the size and layout of Mr. Cosby’s room, specifically whether there were chairs, couches, or other places to sit, and will be able to rebut Ms. Constand’s explanation for why she sat on Mr. Cosby’s bed,” the document says. “Such testimony goes to the material issue regarding Ms. Constand’s credibility regarding her encounters with Cosby.”
Cantone could not immediately be reached for comment.
He did not attend Tuesday’s brief hearing before New London Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein, where he was represented by attorney Andrew L. Houlding from the Updike, Kelly & Spellacy law firm of New Haven. Houlding notified the court that Cantone, who is considered a “material witness,” has agreed to testify but needed to reschedule from the initial requested date of April 10.
Strackbein, presented with a request signed by a Pennsylvania judge, issued an interstate subpoena that compels Cantone to show up at the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County.
Attorney Calvin K. Woo from the Verrill Dana law firm in Westport appeared on Cosby’s behalf and presented Cantone’s attorney with a check for $896 for traveling expenses. Cantone’s attorney joked the $5 a day allowance for food was insufficient and was assured that Cantone would be able to submit a bill for expenses that aren’t covered.
Cantone authored a book published in 2014 titled “Book ‘Em — From the Man Who Revolutionized Casino Entertainment.” A testimonial from Cosby appeared on the book’s jacket.