NEW YORK—On Thursday, June 13, Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was arrested for misdemeanor forcible touching and sexual abuse in the third degree by the New York Police Department. Gooding turned himself in at approximately 2 p.m. to authorities on Thursday.
The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges against him during his court arraignment. Gooding was later released from custody on his own recognizance after being in police custody for six hours, the Associated Press reported.
According to reports, the actor reportedly touched a woman without receiving consent in Midtown Manhattan on June 9, while at a bar. The 29 year-old woman filed a filed a police report against the actor hours following the alleged encounter on June 10. The name of the victim has yet to be disclosed to the public.
TMZ was first to release video of the alleged incident. Gooding’s lawyer, Mark Heller states, “There is absolutely no criminality taking place on the part of my client,” after reviewing over two hours of footage from that night.
Gooding is known for his role in the 1991 drama “Boyz n the Hood” by director John Singleton. He also starred in the movies “A Few Good Men,” “Instinct,” “Men of Honor”
and “The Butler.” He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film “Jerry Maguire” alongside Tom Cruise.
